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Traditional old houses,

monuments, castles, caves,
churches and mosques.
by Erasmus+ students
of Belgium, Croatia, North Macedonia, Poland,
Portugal and Turkey.

2022

DIGital CULTURal heritagE!

 Belgian Buildings& Monuments

1 ATOMIUM
This is our Atomium, an important
symbol of Belgium, located in
Brussels since 1958 (20th century).
Inside there was built a museum
which u can visit and discover some
nice artworks and typical belgian
things.
Fun fact: inside you can find
an elevator that goes all the
way up with a velocity of one
meter per second!

2 THE LIONS’S MOUND The Lion’s mound (also called The Lion
of Waterloo)was made in the 20’s of the
19th century.

This monument commemorates the location

on the battlefield of Waterloo where a
musket ball hit the shoulder of William
II of the Netherlands (the Prince of
Orange) and knocked him from his horse
during the battle.

It is also a memorial of the Battle of

Quatre Bras, which had been fought two
days earlier, on 16 June 1815.
3 THE BELFRY OF GHENT
The belfry of Ghent was built in 1313
and went through several changes until
1913. With a height of 91 meters it is
one of the highest belfries in Belgium
and one of the three most famous towers
of Ghent.

4 THE STATUE OF AMBIORIX

The imposing bronze statue of Ambiorix, King of

the Eburones, dating from 1866 (19th century) is
a tribute to his memorable victory over the
Romans in 54 BC. Ambiorix is posing in Germanic
attire and a dragon helmet, his hatchet as his
weapon of choice. His feet are trampling the
weapons of the defeated Roman foe.
Croatia
Traditional houses in Slavonia

In the north and east of Croatia, the walls of houses are made of dirt. with hay, homemade unbaked brick
or real baked brick. The houses are single-storey, mostly with a gabled thatched or reed roof, later with
tiled roofs, with a porch along the courtyard façade. They were mostly narrow and facing the street. In
Slavonia and Baranja, long, one-story buildings are common, where the main residential house is followed
by living quarters for close relatives, with separate entrances from the porch, as well as other utility rooms:
storage rooms, stables, brick ovens etc.
Đeram

The narrow, long courtyard was dominated by a water well called "đeram". The upper part of the well was
usually made of locally grown oak trees. The mills were run by cattle, so they were larger buildings with
a circular floor plan and a conical roof.

The Church of All Saints in Đakovo (mosque)

It was probably built in the 14th century when it was mentioned as the parish Church of St. Lawrence.
During the time of the Ottoman reign it was converted into a mosque (the Ibrahim Pasha Mosque), which
has been preserved and converted into the Catholic Church of All Saints. The beauty of this unique building
lies in its interior built in the Byzantine-Moorish style. It is located at Dr. Franjo Tuđman Square.

by Tomislav Gospić
St. Peter’s Cathedral in Đakovo

Monumental St Peter’s Cathedral in Đakovo remains a sort of “beacon of faith” on the skyline of the City of
Đakovo and the whole of Slavonia.
The most important cultural monument in Đakovo and the most beautiful cathedral between Venice and
Istanbul, as Pope XXIII described it, is located at Strossmayer Square.
Today’s cathedral, which replaced the first cathedral from the 14th century and the second Baroque
cathedral from the 18th century, was commissioned by Bishop Josip Juraj Strossmayer.
The cathedral was built in a successful blending of Romanesque and Gothic styles to the design made by
Viennese architects Carl Roesner and Friedrich Schmidt. After sixteen years, which is how long it took for
construction to be completed (1866-1882), the Cathedral was solemnly consecrated on 1 October 1882.

Church in Strizivojna

St. Martin's Church in Strizivojna is a characteristic sacral building in the central part of Slavonia. As was
customary during the 19th century, a new masonry building was built in 1835-1836 on the site of the
former modest and rustic wooden church, dedicated on January 21, 1836.
School

The first information about the school in Strizivojna dates from 1 December 1829. The school was
organized and started operating in 1830.
Today, the school in Strizivojna is a modern school, equipped with modern technology and specialized
classrooms. The school is attended by students from 1st to 8th grade. Within the school there is a modern
sports hall. In addition to the elementary school "Ivana Brlić Mažuranić" Strizivojna, there is also a province
school Soljak.
Drawings by Croatian students

by Klara Dundić

by Luka Botić

by David Teskera
North Macedonia
Skopje
Skopje is the capital of our country, it is located in the Povardarie region, and is the largest and most diverse
city in the country. Today, Skopje is becoming a modern city. Home to about quarter of the entire
population of the country. Skopje is the financial and political centre of our country. Apart from being the
capital city, Skopje has always been a centre of power long coveted by various empires. The city founded by
the Paeonians in the 3rd century B.C.E. under the name of ‘Skupi’ was prized for its strategic location, in a
long valley between two hills, situated on the banks of the Vardar River, a vital trade route. Under the
Romans, Skopje was made administrative centre of the Dardanian Province. The city’s prestige grew when
the Orthodox Church made it an episcopal seat during the early Byzantine Empire.

Stone Bridge
The Stone Bridge is a bridge across the Vardar River in Skopje, the capital of the Republic of North
Macedonia. The bridge is considered a symbol of Skopje and is the main element of the coat of arms of the
city, which in turn is incorporated in the city's flag. It is located in Centar municipality and it connects
Macedonia Square to the Old Bazaar. The current Stone Bridge was built on Roman foundations under the
patronage of Sultan Mehmed II the Conqueror between 1451 and 1469. Most of the Stone Bridge originates
from the Ottoman period and throughout the centuries, the Stone Bridge was often damaged and then
repaired. There is historical evidence that it once suffered during the great earthquake of 1555 which
heavily damaged or destroyed four pillars. Some executions have also taken place on this bridge, such as the
execution of Karposh in 1689.
Skopje Fortress
The Skopje Fortress , commonly referred to as Kale, is a historic fortress located in the old town of Skopje,
the capital of North Macedonia. It is located in Centar municipality and situated on the highest point in the
city overlooking the Vardar River. The fortress is depicted on the coat of arms of Skopje, which in turn is
incorporated in the city's flag. The fortress is thought to have been built during the rule of emperor Justinian
I and constructed further during the 10th and 11th centuries over the remains of emperor Justinian's
Byzantine fortress which may have been destroyed due to a number of wars and battles in the region.

Canyon Matka
Matka Canyon is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Skopje. This wonderful gem of nature is located
only a short ride away from the capital and you can easily go there as a day trip from Skopje. This
spectacular place was actually not made by nature. In 1938 the dam was built on river Treska, creating the
artificial lake surrounded by high mountains, the oldest lake of that kind in North Macedonia. The Matka
Canyon covers the area of around 5,000 hectares. 20% of the plant species you can see here are endemic,
meaning they can’t be found anywhere else. You can also see 77 kinds of butterflies in the area! There are
also ten caves at Matka Canyon, the most popular one being Vrelo Cave. It was even included on the list of
top 77 natural sites of the world in the New 7 Wonders of the World project.
Old Bazaar
The Old Bazaar is a bazaar located in Skopje, North Macedonia, situated on the eastern bank of the Vardar
River, stretching from the Stone Bridge to the Bit-Pazar and from the Skopje Fortress to the Serava river. The
Old Bazaar falls primarily within the borders of Čair Municipality but a part of it is located in Centar
Municipality. As one of the oldest and largest marketplaces in the Balkans, it has been Skopje's centre for
trade and commerce since at least the 12th century. The earliest known sources that describe the existence
of a merchant quarter on the bazaar's territory date back to the 12th century. During Ottoman rule of
Skopje, the Old Bazaar developed rapidly to become city's main centre of commerce.

Primary School Mirce Acev - Skopje

Mirce Acev is a municipal elementary school with 75 years of tradition. It employs 49 teachers (teaching
lower grades and different subjects) and 4 professional associates, as well as administrative and technical
personnel. Exactly 393 boys and 387 girls from 1st to 9th grade study in the school in the school year 2019-
The school provides quality teaching tailored to the opportunities, needs and interests of students in which
personal responsibility, self-discipline, tolerance, mutual respect and motivation of all participants in the
school life are concerned.
We encourage the development of personality and sports spirit, humanity, ecological awareness, critical
thinking and building positive values systems in order to successfully respond to the needs of the society.
We empower students to respect diversity and coexistence in a multicultural society. We are building a
modern, innovative and open school that can meet the challenges of the 21st century.
We strengthen the professional competencies of the employees in order to constantly improve the quality
of the educational process. We do have a well-equipped school in which they acquire functional knowledge.
Drawings by Macedonian students
Poland
The Church of St. Leonard in Lipnica Murowana by Bartosz Budzyn (grade 6a)

St. Leonard Church - a wooden cemetery church, located in Lipnica Dolna in the Bochnia county. In 2003, it
was entered, along with other wooden churches in southern Małopolska, to the UNESCO World Heritage
List. The church is located on the Uszwica river, beyond the historical border of the old town fortifications
of Lipnica Murowana. The church was probably built at the end of the 15th century on the site of an earlier
temple. However, according to local tradition, it dates from 1143 or 1203 - this date can be read on the
north-eastern wall of the chancel - and stands on the site of a former pagan shingIt has survived to this day
in an almost unchanged condition and is one of the most valuable wooden Gothic churches in Poland.

St. Mary's Church in Kraków by Maciej Kurek (grade 6c), a drawing by Amelia Rudnik (grade 8c)

St. Mary's Basilica is situated in the Main Square in Cracow. It was built in the 14th century. On every hour,
24 hours a day, 365 days a year, a trumpet signal called the hejnał mariacki - St. Mary's Trumpet Call is
played from the top of the taller of Saint Mary's two towers. It is one of the most famous churches in
Poland.
The Cloth Hall by Zofia Wełna (grade 6a)

The Cloth hall was built in 1358. In the past, there were about 18 stalls in the cloth hall, where people
traded goods. Today, in the Cloth Hall, there are two rows of stalls, the main ones with jewelry, souvenirs
and handicrafts. It is considered to be the first shopping mall in the world ;-)

Manor houses by Róża Czerwińska (grade 7a)

Manor houses were characteristic of the Polish landscape from several centuries ago. Sarmatian and noble
culture developed along with them. A characteristic element of the estate erected in this style was a two-
or four-column portico on the axis of the front elevation with a triangular pediment. The single-story
buildings were covered with a hipped mansard roof made of shingle or tiles. Brick or built of larch logs they
were usually oriented "at eleven o'clock" so that the sun would evenly illuminate all rooms. Usually, the
manors were surrounded by a park, and you could reach the entrance via an avenue. A small lawn in front
of the portico formed the honorary courtyard.The so-called "Gargamels". The erected, gothic-style
turreted villas with rich but mismatched decorations formerly belonged to wealthy Roma, and today they
are usually erected for service and entertainment in various parts of the country.
Colorful houses in Zalipie by Milena Klasa (grade 6a)

There are colorful, beautiful and small houses in Zalipie. They were built in the 20th century and are now
a tourist attraction (there is a museum). People used to live in the houses. It is now a museum.
Polish castles by Franciszek Jędruszek (grade 7a)

The Malbork castle is situated in the Pomeranian voivodeship. Since year 1309 the Malbork castle was
a headquarter of the Teutonic Order. It’s also the world biggest castle built in the gothic style and it covers
the area of 21 hectares. In the year 1961 the government decided to create a museum in this castle and it
performs this function to this day.

The Moszna palace has been built in baroque style in XVIII century. It has 365 rooms and 99 turrets and a
very big park around them. It is situated between villages Prudnik and Krapkowice in the Opole
voivodeship. In the years 1996-2012 this Palace had a function to be a neurosis therapy centre and a part
of it is still available to visit.

The Wawel royal castle was built at the turn of the XI and XII centuries in gothic style and the courtyard
was surrounded by the new building so it took a monumental character. It's situated in the centre of
Krakow on the Wawel hill. Today The Wawel castle serves as a museum of the European art.
The Salt Mines by Kacper Pawłowski (grade 6a), a drawing by Amelia Rudnik (grade 8c)

There are two famous salt mines in the Lesser Poland the salt mine in Bochnia and the salt mine in
Wieliczka. The salt mine in Wieliczka has 9 levels. The last one is 327 metres below the Earth's Surface. The
salt mine in Bochnia is about 200 metres below the Earth's - Surface. In the past in the salt mines the salt
was mined. Now both mines are the tourist attractions.

Our school by Kacper Kamionka (grade 6a)

This is a Primary School no. 1 in Bochnia. This is the oldest school in Bochnia and one of the oldest in
Poland. It was established in 1397. This is the school I go to.
It is a four-storey building. It was built in the XIX century.
Portugal
The Belem Tower

The Belém Tower is located in the city of Lisbon, Portugal in the south of Europe. This monument was erected for the
purpose of serving both as a gateway to the city of Lisbon and as a defense against possible invasions and attacks
from the Tagus. This rampart was a strategic point also protecting the Jeronimos Monastery, which constituted
strategic points to invade the city. King John II of Portugal (1455-1495) was at the origin of this building, as were the
fortresses of Cascais and São Sebastião da Caparica. The shores of Belém were once protected by a vessel, the
Grande Nau. It was replaced by the Belém Tower a few years later during the last five years of the reign of King
Manuel I of Portugal.

Padrão dos Descobrimentos

Created by Cottinelli Telmo (1897–1948) and the sculptor Leopoldo de Almeida (1898–1975), Padrão dos
Descobrimentos was first erected in 1940, in a temporary form, as part of the Portuguese World Exhibition, built
with perishable materials. The monument was reconstructed in 1960 to mark 500 years since the death of the
Infante Dom Henrique (Henry the Navigator).

A stylised caravel seems to be setting out to sea, with Henry the Navigator in its prow. On the two lateral ramps
ascending to the symbolic figure of the Prince are some of the significant characters of the Portuguese overseas
expansion and cultural names from the age of the Discoveries, 32 in total, all portrayed with symbols that allude to
their identity: navigators, cartographers, warriors, colonisers, missionaries, chroniclers and artists. Composed of a
vertical element consisting of a stylised mast oriented North-South, with two Portuguese coats of arms on each side
with its five small shields, surrounded by a band with 12 castles and stylised fleurs-de-lis in the centre. On each side
are three triangular structures, each with one curved side, giving the illusion of sails blown out by the wind.

The north side is formed by two giant stones which bear inscriptions in metallic letters. On the left side, the
inscription above an anchor reads ‘TO THE INFANTE DOM HENRIQUE AND THE PORTUGUESE WHO DISCOVERED THE
SEA ROUTES’. On the other side, the inscription above a laurel wreath reads, ‘ON THE V CENTENARY OF THE INFANTE
DOM HENRIQUE 1460–1960′. In the middle of the monument, a flight of nine steps gives access to a platform with a
view over the entire surrounding area. The second flight of five stairs and a portal with a round arch formed by
vaulted stones lead through to the interior of the monument. The monument is flanked by two metal armillary
spheres on two parallelepiped platforms.

Jerónimos Monastery

In the spot where the Jerónimos Monastery stands today, next to the old Belém beach, was originally a small
hermitage dedicated to Santa Maria that had been built by the Infante D. Henrique, in 1452. At the start of the 16th
century King Manuel I’s intention to have a large monastery erected there was acknowledged by the Holy See, and
which was donated to the Order of the Friars of St. Jerome. The epitome of Manueline architecture and intrinsically
linked to the Discoveries, this monastery is the most remarkable Portuguese monastic ensemble of its time and one
of the main European churches.
Construction on it began in 1501, lasted for a hundred years and was spearheaded by a remarkable group of
architects and master builders both national and foreign. With an initial design by Frenchman Boytac, the work was
continued by other Masters, namely João de Castilho and, in the middle of the century, Diogo de Torralva. After the
arrival of the Portuguese in India, the Portuguese crown was able to fund the venture with money coming from
trade with the East. King D. Manuel I channelled much of the so-called "Vintena da Pimenta" (a ‘Spice Tax’,
approximately 5% of revenues from trade with Africa and the East, equivalent to 70kg of gold per year) to finance
construction work.

In this monument, classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, it is worth noting the facades, the church and the
cloisters. On the south facade, one can admire the portal painted by João de Castilho, where the figures are arranged
according to a specific hierarchy: below, Infante D. Henrique guards the entrance, the Virgin of Bethlehem blesses
the monument, and Archangel Saint Gabriel, the protector of Portugal, completes the arc. The western portal,
through which one enters the sacred space, is the authorship of Nicolau Chanterenne. To the left, protected by St.
Jerome, is the statue of King D. Manuel, which is said to be a realistic portrait, and to the right is that of Queen D.
Maria, his wife, protected by St. John the Baptist.

Inside there is the church-hall, a Manueline masterpiece by João de Castilho. Note how, in a remarkable architectural
achievement, the beautiful vault of the transept is not supported by any columns. At the entrance, after the lower-
choir, are the cenotaphs of the poet Luís de Camões, author of the epic poem "Os Lusíadas", and of Vasco da Gama,
commander of the armada that in 1497 went to India. The kings, princes and descendants of D. Manuel I are buried
in the side chapels. In the main chapel, later reconstructed by Jerónimo de Ruão, are the tombs of D. Manuel I, his
son D. João III and their wives. Worthy of special mention is the solid silver tabernacle, a work of Portuguese
silversmithy from the mid-17th century.

The Sanctuary of Christ the King

The Sanctuary of Christ the King (Portuguese: Santuário de Cristo Rei) is a Catholic monument and shrine dedicated
to the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ overlooking the city of Lisbon situated in Almada, in Portugal. It was inspired by
the Christ the Redeemer statue of Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil, after the Cardinal Patriarch of Lisbon visited that
monument. The project was inaugurated on 17 May 1959. The giant statue was erected to express gratitude because
the Portuguese were spared the direct destructive effects of World War II.

The monument was erected on an isolated clifftop 133 m above the sea, overlooking the Tagus River left bank. It was
constructed in the parish of Pragal, which was merged with the parishes of Almada, Cova da Piedade, Pragal e
Cacilhas in 2013, into the municipality of Almada. It is the highest point in Almada, on a plateau dominated by the 25
de Abril Bridge, and close to the Estação Elevatória e Reservatório do Pragal. It is accessible from Lisbon by car (over
the 25 de Abril Bridge east of the crossing), by train through station in Pragal and by ferry (the Cacilheiro) over
the Tagus, through the port of Cacilhas in Almada.

The monument consists of a trapezoidal pedestal of 82 metres (269 ft) height, formed by four arches and a flat
platform, supporting the 28 metres (92 ft) image of Christ. Its base was designed by architect António Lino in the
form of a gate, while the statue of Christ the King was designed by sculptor Francisco Franco de Sousa. The four
arches of the pedestal are oriented in the directions of the compass rose. The figure of Christ, comparable to
the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, forms a cross, with its arms extended out facing the city of Lisbon,
as if to embrace the city. Due to issues of security and safety, the monument was sufficiently distanced from the
cliffs on which it predominates.

At the base of the statue is the observation deck, at 82 metres (269 ft), which enables panoramic views of the city of
Lisbon, the Tagus River and the 25 de Abril Bridge.

Santuário do Bom Jesus do Monte

To reach the Bom Jesus Sanctuary, you can go by foot, car or even take the vertical tram, an impressive piece of
19th century engineering. This was the first of its kind to be installed in Portugal in 1882 and continues to use its
water-powered system to power up the 300-metre slope in just 3 minutes. The church was built later (1784) by
Carlos Amarante who gave it an Italian inspired neo-classical design, which integrates harmoniously the landscape of
northern Portugal.

The stairway leading to the top contains 17 landings adorned with symbolic fountains, allegoric statues and other
Baroque style decoration along themes such as the Stations of the Cross, the Five Senses, the Virtues, Moses
receiving the Commandments and, at the top, the eight biblical figures that contributed to the Condemnation of
Jesus. Any visit must take in the view from the bottom of the Stairway. Looking upwards there are the ornate granite
fountains on the various landings and the white, chalice-shaped outline on which the church itself "sits".

Inside the roomy, sombre church attention goes to the paintings by Pedro Alexandrino (18th century). Next to the
Church, there is the Museum of Confraria with its collection of religious pieces and its Library founded in 1918.

Sintra

In the 19th century Sintra became the first centre of European Romantic architecture. Ferdinand II turned a ruined
monastery into a castle where this new sensitivity was displayed in the use of Gothic, Egyptian, Moorish and
Renaissance elements and in the creation of a park blending local and exotic species of trees. Other fine dwellings,
built along the same lines in the surrounding serra , created a unique combination of parks and gardens which
influenced the development of landscape architecture throughout Europe.
Monastery of Santa Maria da Vitória (or Monastery of Batalha)

One of the most fascinating places in the Iberian Peninsula. A decisive event for the consolidation of the Portuguese
nation took place on August 14, 1385, near the spot where the Monastery of Batalha stands: D. João, Master of Avis
and the future king of Portugal, overcame the Castilian armies in the battle of Aljubarrota. This victory put an end to
a dynastic crisis that had dragged on since 1383, since the death of King Ferdinand, whose only daughter was
married to the King of Castile, an aspirant to the throne of Portugal. D. João dedicated the monastery to the Virgin
Mary, who he had invoked to intercede his triumph and donated it to the Dominican Order, to which his confessor
belonged. This gave way to the birth of a work whose construction would last for almost two centuries and which
resulted in one of the most fascinating Gothic monuments of the Iberian Peninsula. The construction of the
monastery also embodied the consecration of King João I as king of Portugal, thus assuming itself as a symbol of the
new dynasty and legitimised by divine will.

Its architectural value and historical significance spurred the classification of the monument as a UNESCO World
Heritage Site in 1983. The construction included seven reigns of the second dynasty (1385-1580) and involved a large
team of master masons of a high level, both national and foreign, that were initially directed by Afonso Domingues,
until his death, in 1402. During this period, part of the church and the royal cloister were erected. He was succeeded
by Master Huguet, an Englishman, who by 1438 completed the church, built the chapel of the founder and began
work on the pantheon of D. Duarte. Between 1448 and 1477, Fernão de Évora designed the cloister of D. Afonso V
and, in the 16th century, Mateus Fernandes was responsible for the Unfinished Chapels.

The monastery houses the most important nucleus of Portuguese medieval stained glass windows, which can be
admired in the Chapel and the Chapter Hall. The central nave of the church stands at 32.5 metres and rests on eight
columns on either side. In addition to the chapels and the cloisters, the monastery's dormitory, dining room and
kitchen can also be visited.
Turkey
1-Muğdat Mosque
The mosque was built in 1980s in the Yenişehir second-level district of Mersin. Although the official name
of the neighbourhood is Gazi, it is usually called Muğdat after the name of the mosque. The mosque is
situated at the north of Mersin Archaeological Museum and the Mersin Naval Museum. The total area of the
mosque including the yard is 7,900 square metres (85,000 sq ft) and the base area of the building is 3,070
square metres (33,000 sq ft)
The mosque has a capacity to offer service to 5500 people. With this capacity it is the largest mosque in
Mersin and the third largest mosque built during the Republican era of Turkey. It is also one of the three six-
minaret mosques of Turkey. (Originally the mosque had four minarets, the next two were added recently)
The height of the minarets is 81 metres (266 ft). On each minaret there are three minaret balconies.
Muğdat mosque is actually a complex like the traditional Ottoman mosques. In addition to religious
services, the mosque has facilities including a conference room, a library, a guest house a condolences room
and a health center. The basement of the building is a supermarket.
2. Maiden Castle

*History
According to Strabo, the island was used by the pirates in the ancient age. But the castle was probably built
by Alexios I Komnenos of the Byzantine Empire after the First Crusade. It was extensively rebuilt in the
13th century by Leo I and at least one subsequent monarch of the Armenian Kingdom of
Cilicia. Archaeological surveys published in 1982 and 1987 found that the original Byzantine plan survives
primarily at the south with the characteristic square towers. The Armenians rebuilt the north and west sides
of the castle with their distinctive rusticated ashlar masonry (not spolia from the late antique city) and round
towers. They also put new facing stone on most of the Greek construction. Two Armenian inscriptions
reportedly mention the rebuilding of this site by King Leo I (1206) and King Het‛um I (1251). The
Armenians also built a barrel vaulted chapel inside the fort. The island was once connected to the mainland
fort, Corycus castle, by a breakwater. The Armenians called this fortress Gorygos).In the 14th century the
Cilician Kingdom was on the verge of collapse and in 1360 Peter I of Cyprus captured the island at the
request of the inhabitants. The castle was captured by İbrahim II of Karaman of the Karamanids,
an Anatolian beylik, in 1448, and by Gedik Ahmet Pasha of the Ottoman Empire in 1471. The name Goygos
was changed to Kızkalesi.

*Legend of Kızkalesi
According to the legend of Kızkalesi, a fortune teller informs the king that his beautiful daughter will be
poisoned by a snake. He adds that even the king is unable to change her fate. Shocked by the fortune teller's
words, the king tries to save the princess by building a castle on an island where no snakes live. He sends his
daughter to live in the castle. But a snake hides in a grape basket sent from the mainland and poisons the
princess. This legend is not unique to Kızkalesi and some other localities in Turkey share the same story.
3- Old Tarsus Houses

The old houses of Tarsus with unique characteristics are also an important touristic value. It is possible to
see the traces of these houses in the old Muslim and non-Muslim neighborhoods in the southern part of the
district, known as Old Tarsus.
The most well-known of the Old Tarsus Houses are the houses on the streets starting right next to the Saint
Paul's Well and extending towards the south, and then continuing until the Roman Bath. Some of these have
been restored and are structures that can be described as the symbol of Tarsus. Some of the old houses,
which have been renovated in accordance with their originality, serve as boutique hotels, cafes and
restaurants.
While constructing the Historical Tarsus Houses, various subtleties that are difficult to see elsewhere due to
the warm climate and respect for privacy were considered.
Due to the hot climate, thick limestones containing calcium carbonate brought from the Taurus Mountains
were used in the buildings, thus ensuring that the interior of the houses is cooler in the summer and warmer
in the winter.
Again, with the effect of the hot climate, the distance between the streets was kept narrow, and it was aimed
to ensure that the houses were in the shadow of each other, as well as to find a shaded area to walk on the
streets. In general, the direction of the streets is designed to receive the cool wind blowing from the
southwest.
While planning the Old Tarsus Houses, privacy was also taken into consideration. The best example of this
is the double knocker doors seen in some houses. One of the knockers makes a deep and full sound, the
knocking of this knocker means that it is a man who comes to the house, and the man of the house opens the
door. On the other hand, women knock on the thin-voiced knocker and the woman of the house opens the
door. Again, in some buildings, there is a cage system made in such a way that the owner of the house can
see the person knocking on the door from above, and the person who knocks on the door cannot see the
owner of the house.
Another interesting detail about the doors in the Old Tarsus Houses is that if the owner is not at home but
will come immediately, he tie the rope lightly to the door, and if he will not be at home for a long time, the
rope is tied tightly so that those who come to the house understand when the host will return.
4. Co-Cathedral of St. Anthony of Padua (Mersin)

The Co-Cathedral of St. Anthony of Padua also St. Anthony Latin Catholic Church of
Mersin (Turkish: Aziz Antuan Latin Katolik Kilisesi) is a church in Mersin, Turkey. Is a Co-Cathedral of the
Roman Catholic Vicariate Apostolic of Anatolia.
At the beginning of the 19th century Mersin was a small village and the Christian population of the region
was concentrated in nearby Tarsus (birthplace of St Paul) . But towards the mid 19th century, Mersin
flourished as a port of Çukurova (Cilicia). Meanwhile because of Druze-Christian disturbances in Lebanon,
many Christians migrated to Mersin. Also at this time the French consulate moved from Tarsus to Mersin
and with it went most of the Catholic population of Tarsus. With every passing day, Mersin became more
important and in 1853 it was decided that a church should be built in Mersin. In May 1854 Peder Antonio
moved from Tarsus to Mersin.
On 18 September 1855, the Ottoman sultan Abdulmejid I gave the firman (decree) to build a church. The
church and an accompanying school under the direction of Capucine friars continued up to the World War
I in which both Italy and France were opposers of Turkey. After a temporary halt during the war, the school
reopened at the conclusion of the war. But it was closed in 1923 and the buildings were transferred to public
authorities. (See Mersin Üçocak İlkokulu) The church is still active.