St. Pierre Church: One of the World's First Cave Churches
In Antakya — the city where the followers of Jesus were first called 'Christians' — a church carved into the mountainside awaits.
On the Çevlik coast of Samandağ, a colossal passage carved by hand runs straight through the mountain: the Titus Tunnel, one of the boldest engineering projects of the Roman Empire and part of the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List.
Why Was It Built?
Ancient Seleucia Pieria — today's Çevlik — was a major Roman harbour, constantly silted up by floodwater from the mountains. Emperor Vespasian ordered a diversion channel in the 1st century AD; the work continued under his son Titus, whose name is still readable on an inscription at the tunnel entrance. The system stretches about 1,380 metres, with sections up to 7 metres high, all cut with hammer and chisel.
The Beşikli Cave
Right next to the tunnel lies the Beşikli Cave necropolis: monumental rock-cut tombs with columns, sarcophagi and reliefs — some of the finest Roman stonework in the region.
- Location: Çevlik, Samandağ — about 10 minutes by car from the hotel.
- Bring: Comfortable shoes and water; the tunnel floor can be wet.
- Time needed: 1.5–2 hours for the tunnel and the cave tombs.
Truva Life tip: Go in the morning and finish with lunch at the fish restaurants on the Çevlik shore. Our reception can help with directions and transport.
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