Habib-i Neccar Mosque, Antakya
The Habib-i Neccar Mosque in Antakya: dating to 638, named after a carpenter of Antioch linked…
Photo: Sonaynet / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Titus Tunnel, Samandağ
A Roman flood channel cut through a mountain at Çevlik, with rock tombs beside it.
Overview
At Çevlik, near Samandağ, the Titus Tunnel cuts straight through the mountain. Roman workers dug it to save a harbor city from its own river.
The Story of the Titus Tunnel
Seleucus I Nicator founded Seleucia Pieria around 300 BC as the port of Antioch. Floods from the mountain kept threatening its inner harbor. Emperor Vespasian ordered a channel to divert the water; the work began in AD 69, and his son Titus finished it in AD 81. Roman legions and slaves did the digging.
What to See at Çevlik
The tunnel is about 1,380 m long, 7 m high and 6 m wide. About 130 m of it is fully enclosed; the rest is an open channel. Near the entrance, an inscription carries the names of Vespasian and Titus. About 100 m from the sea-side end, the Beşikli Cave holds twelve rock tombs linked by columns, arches and stairs.
Beşikli Cave and the Way to Çevlik
From the sea-side end, the Beşikli Cave lies about 100 m (330 ft) away on the right. It is one of the largest rock tombs of the area, and its columns, capitals, steps and carved motifs have been restored to match the originals. The site lies in Kapısuyu, near the Çevlik ruins, about 5 km (3 miles) from Samandağ, and shuttle services run there from Samandağ.
Our notes for the tunnel
- Length1,380 m
- BuiltAD 69–81, under Vespasian and Titus
- PurposeFlood channel for Seleucia Pieria
- NearbyBeşikli Cave rock tombs
Our suggestion Wear shoes with grip for the wet rock, and finish with fish by the sea at Çevlik.
How to Visit the Titus Tunnel
The tunnel is about 5 km from Samandağ. Ask us to confirm its status before you plan a visit. On the way, stop at St. Simeon Monastery. We plan your walk through the Titus Tunnel on your day in Samandağ.
Would you like to see Antakya and its surroundings with a guide who follows how the city is rebuilding? Beşikli Cave and the tunnel make a morning at Çevlik; write to us with your date and we add the lunch. See our Antakya tour, our drivers and our Hatay guide.
Because you can walk inside a Roman engineering project. Look for the names of the emperors cut into the rock.
Things to See & Do
-
-
Ulu Mosque, Antakya
The Antakya Ulu Mosque: a mosque complex by the Asi River with a minaret inscription of…
-
St. Pierre Church (Church of St. Peter), Antakya
The cave Church of St. Peter near Antakya, ancient Antioch: where tradition says the apostle Peter…
-
Hatay Archaeology Museum
The Hatay Archaeology Museum in Antakya: Roman mosaics from ancient Antioch, Daphne and Seleucia Pieria, the…
-
St. Simeon Monastery (St. Simon), Hatay
St. Simeon Monastery near Antakya: a sixth-century monastery on a hill of about 479 m, built…
-
Harbiye (Daphne), Antakya
Harbiye near Antakya: ancient Daphne, a resort of the Seleucid kings named after the nymph who…
-
Alalakh (Tell Atchana), Hatay
Alalakh (Tell Atchana) in Reyhanlı, Hatay: a Bronze Age royal city on the Amik Plain, capital…
Map
Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab) Open in Apple Maps (opens in a new tab)
Frequently asked questions
Why was the Titus Tunnel built?
To divert floodwater away from the harbor city of Seleucia Pieria; Vespasian ordered it and his son Titus completed it.
How long is it?
About 1,380 m long, 7 m high and 6 m wide.
What is Beşikli Cave?
A rock tomb about 100 m from the sea-side entrance, with twelve graves linked by columns, arches and stairs.
How do I get to the Titus Tunnel?
It lies at Kapısuyu near Çevlik, about 5 km from Samandağ, and shuttle services run from Samandağ.
