It is situated on the Erdemli-Silifke highway at a distance of 50 km from Mersin. The city was first built on an island, but developed at the area where present-day Ayas village is located during the Roman and

Byzantine times. The theatre, the templei the harbour complex, the cistern and the aqueduct, the baths, sarcophagi, mausolea and basilicas from the Byzantine age constitute the major historicial sights. The palace of Cappadocian king Archelaos was supposedly situated on the island.