Vespasian Titus Tunnel

✓ CHECKEDRemarkable Roman-era rock-cut tunnel, unusual engineering feat worth seeing.

The most substantial of the remains of Roman Seleucia, a channel and tunnel hacked through the rock for 1.4 km to divert a river. That was partly for flood control but mostly to prevent the harbour being trashed by river silt and debris. Work started under Emperor Vespasian (ruled 69-79 AD), continued under Titus (r 79-81) and was completed under Antoninus Pius (r 138–161). Legionnaires, sailors, prisoners, slaves and other expendables laboured away here. You enter the deep channel (nowadays dry except after rainfall), and with a flashlight can continue into the tunnel. Most visitors turn back after 100 m but you can go right through.

WIKIVOYAGE · ANTAKYA · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗