Located 240 mi/385 km southeast of Ankara, Adana, Turkey, is sometimes called the City of Gold because of its numerous jewelry shops. (Then again, nearly every city in Turkey has large gold and silver districts.)
Adana is not a major tourist center, but it does have a few sights in its old town. To enter the city, cross an ancient bridge—Roman legionnaires built it in the second century, and it has been in continuous use since then; it is one of the world's oldest bridges still used for vehicle traffic.
Once in Adana, head first to the mosques. Akca Mescit's pulpit and Eski Cami (Yag Cami's) restored minaret are especially interesting, but you may want to give the enormous Sabanci Camii, built by a prominent industrialist, a pass by. If you have more time, see the 19th-century clock tower, the archaeological museum, the second-century stone bridge and the Kapali Carsi, or covered market.
The ancient Hittite city of Karatepe can be seen on a long day trip from Adana. The main castle there has been converted into an open-air museum. Also nearby are the fortress of Kazan and several castles.
Adana's proximity to Syria made it a destination for thousands of refugees fleeing Syria's civil war.
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