“Black Stone” Population: 10,300
Karataş is a scrubby little beach resort, almost 50km south of Adana. The bus ride down here crosses the flat, fertile land of the Seyhan/Ceyhan delta, a place where wheat, maize and oranges grow in profusion. The scant remains of ancient Magarsus stand on a hillside 5km west of Karataş. The only obvious structure is a a very worn theatre although my taxi driver told me that excavations were ongoing and that other structures had been uncovered further inland. Magarsus probably dates back to Luwian times although it is also likely that the Romans resettled the area with people from the mountain plateaux.
Otherwise the only sight of minor interest is the Karataş Cultural Centre. Opened in 2012, it also serves as a cemevi for the town’s large Alevi population.
Is it worth coming here? Probably only if you’re an obsessive list-ticker who wants to have seen every one of Turkey’s many ancient theatres. For bird-watchers, though, the delta area offers richer pickings, best appreciated if you have a car to reach its remoter parts.
Sleeping
Magarsa Park Hotel & Restaurant. Tel: 0322-696 8200
Öyküm Hotel. Tel: 0322-681 2508
Transport info
Hourly minibuses from Adana to Karataş leave from beside the BP petrol station next to the Hilton Hotel.
Froma Karataş the minibuses return from a stop at the start of the road back to Adana rather than from the town centre. This is also where you’ll find the local taxi stand.
