The Gate of St Paul - Tarsus, Turkey. A city in Mersin Province, near to the city of Adana. With a history going back over 9,000 years Tarsus has long been an important stop for traders, a focal point of many civilisations including the Ancient Romans when Tarsus was capital of the province of Cilicia. Tarsus was also the scene of the first meeting between Mark Antony and Cleopatra and birthplace of Saint Paul.