Soli 🇹🇷

Located just 11 kilometers west of Mersin, Turkey, Soli—also known historically as Pompeiopolis or locally as Viranşehir—offers you a fascinating journey into an ancient Mediterranean port city. Set between the timber-rich Taurus Mountains and the fertile Cilician plain, Soli's strategic coastal location near the Cilician Gates attracted diverse civilizations throughout history. As you explore this historic site, you will trace a rich timeline spanning Bronze Age Luwians, Hittites, Achaean colonists, and Persian rulers.

Even Alexander the Great visited in 333 BCE, holding honorary games and imposing a constitution. Later, Roman general Pompey the Great resettled surrendered pirates here and expanded the settlement into a thriving hub featuring a concrete harbor, city walls, a theater, and Roman baths. Soli is also famous for giving rise to the linguistic term 'solecism,' derived from local ancient Greek dialects, and served as the home to notable thinkers like the Stoic philosopher Chrysippus and the didactic poet Aratus.

Though a powerful 525 CE earthquake eventually leveled much of the city, visiting Soli today allows you to walk through centuries of Anatolian history, from ancient harbors to legendary Roman ruins right along the Southern Anatolian coast.

What to see at Soli

• The ancient concrete Roman harbor renovated under Roman rule.
• Historic remnants of city walls, a theater, and ancient Roman baths.
• The legacy of notable native figures like Stoic philosopher Chrysippus and poet Aratus.
• A historic site famously resettled by Pompey the Great with surrendered pirates in 67 BCE.

Visiting tips

Keep in mind that local residents often refer to the archaeological site as Viranşehir, which translates to 'Ruined City.'

How long: 1-2 hours · Best time: Daytime

How to get there & what’s nearby

Soli is easy to reach on Mersin’s public transport. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Mersin travel guide.