Where was Cilicia and the city of Tarsus located?
Cilicia was a region around the corner of the Mediterranean Sea, and Tarsus was a city located up a river valley a few miles inland from the Mediterranean Sea, within the state of Cilicia. This area was Saul's hometown region.
Les explains that after Paul had been to Jerusalem and spent three years with the Lord at Sinai, he was ready to fulfill his commission to the Gentiles. Paul then came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. Les notes that Cilicia was just around the corner of the Mediterranean Sea. Up along the river valley, a few miles in from the Mediterranean Sea, was the city of Tarsus, and this particular state was called Cilicia. That was Saul's hometown area of Tarsus.
Galatians 1:21
Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia;