Situated 60 km. to Mersin, in the Erdemli province, Kizkalesi (Maiden’s Castle) is 800-1000 m. away from the remains of the Mediterranean Sea. Over the years, its tie to mainland has disappeared and it is now an Island. Corcyus, which was established during the 4th century B.C. by the Hellens, and expanded during the Roman and Byzantine Periods, was an important barbour during the 8th century. The castle was established to prevent attacks from the Sea. It contains remains of a church.Ancient Corycus was a large city. It became part of the Seleucid Empire, the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, the various Seljuk empires, the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia, Beylik of Karaman, and finally the Ottoman Empire. In Turkish history, it is known as Prince Cem Sultan’s departing point from Turkey in 1482 after his defeat in an Ottoman civil war on his way to Rome. After Cem’s departure, Kızkalesi became the winter settlement of nomadic Turkmen tribes known as Ayaş. It was declared as a seat of township in 1992.
