Anavarza (Anazarbus) Ancient City & Castle

Anavarza, known in antiquity as Anazarbus, is one of Cilicia's most magnificent ancient metropolises, spread at the foot of a sheer rock mass that rises abruptly from the middle of the Çukurova plain in the Dilekkaya village of Kozan district, Adana.

History

The city's origins reach back to the 1st century BC, to the era of a Roman client kingdom; first called Kyinda and Diocaesarea, it later took its present name from the adjacent crag (Mount Anazarbos). In the Later Roman period it became the capital of the province of Cilicia Secunda, and Emperor Justinian I rebuilt it after a devastating earthquake struck in 527. It flourished as a Byzantine bishopric, then became an important stronghold of the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia, and was finally destroyed by the Mamluks in 1374. These superimposed layers turn Anavarza into an open-air history book.

Architecture & Artefacts

Architecturally, the most striking structure is the monumental triumphal arch, later converted into the city's South Gate; framing the entrance to the ancient city, it is the indispensable composition for photographers. The colonnaded double-lane road uncovered in the 2013 excavations, 34 metres wide and about 2,700 metres long, is regarded as one of the earliest known examples in the ancient world and reveals the city's former grandeur. Colourful mosaics surfacing among the fields, the theatre and stadium set against the rocky slope, three great aqueducts, and the Armenian-Byzantine castle crowning the clifftop with its cisterns, horseshoe towers and chapels together form a complete archaeological site.

Cultural and Touristic Significance

Its cultural importance is considerable: it sits on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List and is counted among the largest ancient settlements in Anatolia. Its touristic value comes from this little-known splendour, which appeals equally to domestic and niche foreign visitors. Agencies favour Anavarza because it lies on the same eastern-Çukurova line as Kozan Castle, Yılankale and Misis, forming the climax of a full-day cultural tour.

Visiting & Access

A visit to the site averages 1.5-2 hours; climbing to the castle extends it to 2.5-3 hours. In guided programmes Anavarza is usually placed in the cool of the morning, before the sun heats the stones. Nearby highlights include Kozan Castle, the Kozan Great Mosque, the small local museum at Dilekkaya, and further afield Yılankale and Misis. The best photographs are taken from before the triumphal arch, along the perspective of the colonnaded street, and from viewpoints over the plain on the path up to the castle.