Kızkalesi, a candidate for UNESCO’s permanent list, met with music and tantuni

The symbol of Mersin, one of Turkey’s important tourism centers, Kızkalesi, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage temporary list and efforts are being made for its inclusion in the permanent list, met with the city’s geographical indication dish ‘tantuni’ and music, resulting in enjoyable scenes to watch. With 321 kilometers of coastline on the Mediterranean, Mersin, which has a unique view with Kızkalesi located in the middle of the sea, opened the tourism season. With the opening of the season, there was an increase in activity with visitors coming to the city for both holiday and cultural tourism. Mersin Governor’s Office contributes to tourism by organizing various promotional events. Efforts are also being made for the inclusion of Korykos Ancient City with Kızkalesi in the middle of the sea and the other castle on the coast in the permanent list from the temporary list of UNESCO World Heritage sites. This year, Mersin Governor Ali Hamza Pehlivan visited Kızkalesi to inspect it on the occasion of the opening of the season. During the inspections, musician Ahmet Baran performed a mini concert inside the castle. Governor Pehlivan, who accompanied the artist, sang the song ‘Ela Gözlüm Ben Bu Elden Gidersem’ by Karacaoğlan. Mersin’s famous geographical indication dish ‘tantuni’ was also prepared inside the castle by both the skilled hands and Governor Pehlivan and offered to the visitors. ‘We are making efforts for its inclusion in the permanent list.’ Governor Ali Hamza Pehlivan, stating that every part of Mersin is full of historical and natural assets, said, ‘Kızkalesi is one of the symbolic historical artifacts of our province. This structure built on the island is located within Korykos Ancient City. This ancient city is in the temporary list of UNESCO World Heritage sites. We are carrying out various activities to attract attention to these artifacts along with all our other assets, to ensure that they are visited by more and more tourists every day. We organize promotional activities. Especially for our assets that are on the temporary list, we are making efforts for their inclusion in the permanent list. In the coming days or years, we have the intention, under the auspices of our ministry, to first have those on the temporary list included in the permanent list, and then to have many other historical assets included in the temporary list and then in the permanent list.’ Governor Pehlivan emphasized the importance of combining music and gastronomy with history at Kızkalesi, saying, ‘These places are visited by thousands of people. The number of visitors is increasing along with our other archaeological sites. We have 11 archaeological sites and 11 museums. We have 605 hotels and nearly 45,000 beds.’ ‘The castle is truly a great value.’ Saliha Özkan, who is touring Turkey on a motorcycle, said, ‘I am traveling to all 81 provinces on my own with a motorcycle. I have visited 33 cities so far. I came to Mersin and now I have the chance to visit Kızkalesi. I live in Istanbul, and I thought Kızkulesi was in Istanbul, but it is here. A castle built so beautifully in the middle of the sea years ago is truly a great value. I believe it is a candidate for UNESCO’s permanent list, and I continue to explore.’ Mehmet Can Yelkenaç, who has been making tantuni for 45 years, expressed his happiness in making the value of Mersin tantuni, the value of Mersin, at Kızkalesi.