History and General Information / Local Legends and Folklore
The historical Tarsus Ulu Mosque (Cami-i Nur) is one of the most ancient religious centers of Çukurova and was built in 1579 by İbrahim Bey, the son of Piri Pasha of the Ramazanoğulları Principality, on the foundations of a ruined Abbasid mosque from the 9th century. The history of the sacred area where the mosque is located goes much deeper, to ancient times. In the tomb section located on the eastern façade of the mosque, the tomb of Prophet Muhammad, who is considered the second ancestor of humanity according to Islamic belief, is located. Adam's son Hz. There are spiritual places and tombs of Prophet Seth and Lokman Hekim, the symbol of wisdom and medicine. In addition, the tomb of Caliph Me'mun, son of Abbasid Caliph Harun Reşid, who went on the Anatolian war with the Islamic armies and died near Tarsus, is also located in this graveyard. Its elegant minaret, built in 1363 during the Mamluk period, is the common synthesis of Seljuk-Mamluk-Ottoman stonemasonry. According to local legend, the secret of Shahmeran's donation of life to Lokman Hekim was fermented here; It has been believed for centuries that the prayers performed in the courtyard of the mosque open the door to healing for the troubled and redemption for those in debt. Geographical Structure, Altitude and Natural Features
It is located in the Tarsus district center, back to back with the historical Kırkkaşık Bedesten and Makam-ı Şerif Mosque, at an altitude of approximately 25 meters. It has a spacious social complex surrounded by stone courtyard walls and shady centuries-old plane and citrus trees. Visiting Hours, Days and Entrance Fees
•Entrance Fee:Visits to historical mosques and tombs are completely free.•Visiting Hours and Days (Mandatory): It is open for worship and visits 7 days a week, from the morning adhan until after the night prayer.•Rules, Security and Baby Stroller/Disabled Access: Decency and dress code must be observed in mosques and tombs; The courtyard and worship area are level and accessible for disabled wheelchairs.•Facilities and Facilities:There is a historical fountain, ablution rooms, ladies' gallery, courtyard seating areas and the Kırkkaşık Bedesteni handicrafts bazaar right next to it. Transportation, Public Transit Routes and Exact Location•Address / Open Location:Cami Nur Mahallesi, Sayman Caddesi No:8, Tarsus / Mersin.•Road Conditions and Vehicle Availability: You can enter the center of Tarsus from Mersin and Adana via the D-400 highway or highway and reach it directly by passenger vehicles on completely asphalt urban roads.•Real Public Transportation Information (Mandatory): Tarsus trains or Çukurova municipal buses, which depart every 15 minutes from Mersin Bus Terminal and Train Station, and all minibuses within Tarsus stop very close to the Ulu Mosque square.•Parking Availability:There are municipal car parking areas around the mosque and Kırkkaşık Bedesten. Spiritual Visiting Etiquette and Commemoration Guidelines•Spiritual Offices:Prophet Muhammad in the mosque. The tombs of Prophet Seth and Lokman Hekim and the tomb of Caliph Me'mun should be visited with awe; Prayers for healing and wisdom should be read.•Architectural Details:The Mamluk style relief stone minaret base, the porticoed courtyard with marble columns and the doors with wooden kundekari workmanship should be examined carefully.•Integrated Environmental Tour:After exiting the mosque, you should visit the neighboring Kırkkaşık Bedesten, then walk the historical Tarsus Houses, St. Paul's Well and the Roman Road.•Local Gastronomy Recommendations:You should try freshly baked buttery Tarsus hummus (hummus with bacon), hazelnut lahmacun, Tarsus turnip and the famous walnut kerebiç on top in the historical restaurants right across the mosque.