aguvenis
Once an important silk road port city, Payas houses the biggest and most important Ottoman complex in Anatolia, Sokullulu Külliyesi, complete with a mosque, a covered bazaar, double Turkish bath (for men and women) , a huge cervansarai, kitchen, primary school, lodge and soup kitchen for poor , panteries , a dervish lodge and stables for horses and camels.Commissioned by famous Ottoman Vizier, Sokullulu Mehmet Pasha, and built by as famous Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan, once a majestic complex, now abondened, completed in 1574 to serve pilgrims to and from sacred destinations like Jerusalem, Mecca. Undergone several restorations , the complex could not gain a proper functionality, (a boutique hotel option is being talked about nowadays) . However the complex is well worth the visit yet do not expect much informative panels hung around . If you can get a hold of the guide pamphlet then available at the guardroom you may navigate yourself. There was a youngmen who guided us through the complex he was a tourist guide working there, gave information about the history but I am not sure if you can count on a regular guided tour . The mosque of the complex is functional so you may always find somebody there . The very old Olive tree at the courtyard of the mosque is also worth a look. No entrance fee, although I am not sure if they have operating hours avoid noon ( for lunch) best try to go in mid morning or early afternoon .Once you arrive to Payas ( on the shore road from Antakya to Adana) the road signs safely take you to the complex . The bonus is next door Payas Castle an original Cenovese Castle later continued to be used by Crusaders, Ottomans . Not much informaion posted yet worth a visit with especially still intact dungeons.