Titus Tuneli

One of the magical place to visit, feeling the environment while walking around is a amazing experience can't be missed. Very recommended for walking lovers, suitable for families with teenagers or children who can walk through nature. We went in January the weather was great and we enjoyed a lot.
If you want to spend time with nature, history, sea and mountain while visiting Samandag, don't miss it.
The enterence fee is 15tl.

The 1,380-meter-long Vespasianus Titus Tunnel, which was built completely by man power is deemed as "the ancient largest water tunnel in the world made by man".

The Vespasianus Titus Tunnel built during the Roman period is located within the boundaries of the Ancient city of Seleuceia Pieria. The antique city Seleuceia Pieria is situated near the actual village Çevlik, 35 km to the southwest of Antakya (the historical city Antioch on the Orontes), at the foot of Nur mountains in eastern Mediterranean coast in Turkey.

Seleuceia Pieria was founded towards the end of the 4th century B.C. by Seleukos Nikator I, one of the generals of Alexander the Great. The city was reigned by the Ptolemeans during the second half of the 3rd century B.C., and flourished later during the Roman period, beginning in the second half of the 1st century A.D., and became one of the most important ports of the Eastern Mediterranean Region. The upper city is separated from the lower one by steep rocky topography. The lower city, surrounded by fortification walls totaling 12 km, has been developed around the harbour of 16 hectares area.

Since the city was under the threat of the floods descended from the mountains and flowed through the city and the harbour was silted up and became inoperative, the Roman emperor, Vespasianus ordered to build a tunnel by digging the mountain in order to divert the floodwaters threatening the harbour. The diversion system was built with the principle of closing the front of the stream bed with a deflection cover and transferring stream waters to the sea through an artificial canal and tunnel.

The construction began in 1st century A.D. during the reign of the Roman emperor Vespasianus (69-79 A.D.), continued under his son Titus (79-81 A.D.) and his successors, completed in 2nd century A.D. during the reign of another Roman emperor, Antonius Pius. A rock-carved inscription at the entrance of the first tunnel section bears the names Vespasianus and Titus, another inscription in the downstream channel that of Antonius.

The diversion system, displaying a broken alignment, consists of: a dam to divert the river flow; a short approach channel; the first tunnel section; a short intermediary channel; the second tunnel section; a long discharge channel.

The tunnel was added to the tentative list in the cultural category of UNESCO World Heritage Site on April 15, 2014.

* Photos courtesy of Internet and Facebook. Thanks!

Impressive roman tunnel through the rock. Great way to explore Hatay's nature while contemplating historical stuff. It's also worth to explore the valleys after the tunnel, just follow the river up for a kilometer or two.

Is is ünde UNESCO protection and you need to pay for entering. Free for teachers. Takes about 3km walk round

The nature was great! You can also see Roman cave on the same tracking road. You can also drink orange juice from farmers.

It’s the longest tunnel built by romans, so fascinating to see how it’s all man made in that time!

Exceptional and well worth seeing, as on 13 August 2023 the tunnel and Beşikli Cave are free to enter.

This place is really amazing. You need about 3-4,hours for this excursion to see the main things. The forest is wonderful, the path is leading through very beautiful place, you can have a magnificent view on Mediterranean Sea. The tunnel is unique and you can enjoy natural wonder with history! Take a lot of water with you, but it is very good that you can alsó buy cold water near the path! It can be very hot in summer!

Do not forget to walk till the end. Very impressive

Fun experience!
Worth trying and climbing and going through

Nice Place, really awesome roman Constructions

In egypt they made pyramids. Here at least the romans use the slave manpower wisely and built more than kilometer long canal system including almost two hundred meter long tunnel. All digged by men. Goal was to prevent floods entering their ancient city. Thousand years later, it is flocks of tourists an also few goats enjoying it.

For only 10tl you can have a look into the history of the Roman Empire. The tunnel is quite impressive and it will bring a cold breeze into a hot summer day. The alley leading to the tunnel is very nice, with people selling different things and small river running along it.

Worth visiting.
Long walk beware.

Truly eerie place, definitely worth a visit

Hand carved tunnel.

A secret heaven.

Impressive!
entrance 10 tl.
Surrounded by beautiful nature.
Must see!

Worth to visit and explore

Interesting hand-made water tunnel digged around BC 100.