Softa Castle is a medieval castle built on a 140-meter-high hill overlooking the sea in Bozyazı District of Mersin. Due to its location, the castle was built for surveillance and defense purposes. It offers a unique visuality when viewed from the castle, and it makes one say that they built the castle in the right place for surveillance purposes. From here, you can see the Mediterranean coves, the ancient city of Anemurium, and even the mountains of Cyprus on dry days.

Softa Castle has reached the present day in a very solid condition, thanks to its location in a relatively difficult place to access. One of the striking features of the castle, which was called Sycae in ancient times, is that it has a double wall structure with inner and outer walls. The castle is spread over a very wide area with its walls in oval form. The entrance gate of the castle is located in the central part of the western walls, and the defensive capability of this point has been strengthened with additions. The chain of structures on the southern slopes of the castle continues until Arsinoe, an ancient port city.

Softa Castle, whose history dates back to the late Roman period, was also used in the Byzantine period, and in 1128, Ertokuş Bey, one of the commanders of the Anatolian Seljuk State, conquered this place together with Mamure Castle. The castle, which came under the rule of the Armenian Kingdom for a short time, was subsequently captured by the Karamanoğulları Principality and was last inhabited during this period. Gedik Ahmet Pasha, who made an expedition to the Karamanoğulları Principality in 1471, added this place to the Ottoman lands together with many castles in Mersin.

In addition to the walls, which are in very good condition, there are many structures such as cisterns, mosques and palaces built to benefit from rain water. Although there are many tombs on the southern slope of the castle, the most striking one is the two-storey tomb, which is also seen in the ancient city of Anemurium.

Softa Castle, also known as the Mysterious Castle among the people, probably due to its difficult accessibility. According to the belief of the local people it  is connected with Mamure Castle by an underground tunnel.  However, considering the distance between the two castles, this seems unlikely.

Where is Softa Castle? Directions Information. How to go to the Castle?

Softa Castle is located within the borders of Kaledibi District of Bozyazı District of Mersin. It is 4 km from Bozyazı and 213 km from Mersin.

To go from Mersin to Softa Castle by private car, you should proceed along the Mersin-Antalya highway, passing the Tekeli and Tekmen Districts. Thenyou can see the castle on the hill with the Softa Castle sign on the right.  After moving for a while in the direction of the sign, the road ends. From here, you can reach Softa Castle with an average climb.

To reach Softa Castle by public transport, you can use Mersin-Antalya buses to get off very close to the castle and then climb the castle.

The walking path of Softa Castle consists of narrow paths known as goat path among the people. It is stated that with the restoration of the castle in the near future, the road will be made suitable for transportation.

The best time to go to Softa Castle is spring, as the weather is not hot and the green vegetation offers unique visuals.

Places to be seen around Softa Castle

Mamure Castle: 17 km

Anamur Museum: 18 km

Anemurium Ancient City: 25 km

Köşekbükü Cave: 28 km