 Antakya
|
|
Antakya is one of the most interesting and entertaining cities in southern Turkey. The city is culturally diverse, with its mixture of Arab and Turkish speaking people, as well a Christian minority. The French years (1919-1939) left behind beautiful boulevards and the city seems to have its own architectural style. The ancient Orontes River (Asi River) divides the city in half |
|
|
The appealing property and the reason of the migrations throughout the history to the Antakya region is the suitable and appropriate climate conditions and the productive and fertile lands. Beside these two facts another important characteristic of the region is its being at the intersection point of the road which connects Anatolia to Syria and Palestine over Çukurova. In addition, the most convenient ports for suitable routes to Mediterranean from Mesopotamia are also located in this region. With its current faith tourism centers, ancient cities and beautiful plateaus, the province of Hatay has a high potential for tourism.
Districts:
The districts of Hatay province are; Altınözü, Belen Dörtyol, Erzin, Hassa, İskenderun, Kırıkhan, Kumlu , Reyhanlı, Samandağ and Yayladağı.
HISTORY
With approximately 2300 years of historical background, the date of the first settlement in the Antakya region extends to the 8000 B.C. The city was founded by Commander Seleukos after the death of Alexander the Great. The city had entered under the dominance of different civilizations. The city was conquered by Yavuz Sultan Selim during his military expedition to Egypt and had entered under the rule of Ottoman Empire. The Independent Hatay State was founded in 1937 and had been bounded to the Republic of Turkey in 1939
WHERE TO EAT
The local beauties and patterns of Hatay province are reflected in the rich food culture of the region.. Oruk, Öcce, Ekşili Börülce (sour kidney - bean), Beyaz Kabak Boranisi (White marrow borani), Cevizli Biber (Muhammara) (pepper with walnut) , Bakla Ezmesi (Broad bean paste), Humus, Nazlı (meat meal) are the meal varieties of the region which would increase your appetite. Among the local desert varieties Peynirli Künefe and Taş Kadayıf (Kataif) could be counted.
DON'T LEAVE WITHOUT
- Visiting Archeology Museum, St. Pierre Church, Habib-i Neccar Mosque, Antakya Castle, Çevlik Promenade area, Titus Tunnel, St. Simen Monastery, Old Antakya houses , Harbiye Promenade area, Külliye of Sokullu Mehmet Paşa , Arsuz shore line, Bakras Castle and Koz Castle,
- Tasting İçli Köfte, Aşur, Ekşi Aşı (sour meal), Humus, Cevizli Biber (pepper with walnut), Kaytaz Pastry, Katıklı Bread, Künefe, Taş Kadayıf, Kabak Tatlısı (Marrow desert) and Kereviç,
- Buying Daphne soap, Silk woven, Pepper paste, Nar Ekşisi (pomegranate sour)
|
Places Wich You Must See
|
|
 MUSEUMS AND ANCIENT CITIES
Hatay Archeology Museum (Antakya Mosaic Museum): The museum is the second place in the world with its richness in mosaic collection and in the third place with its richness of coin collection. Various jewelry, statues, tombs and archeological findings belonging to various periods discovered at the excavations executed in Harbiye, Antakya, Aççana, Çevlik and İskenderun are exhibited in the museum.
Harbiye (Daphne): The ancient city is located 7 km away from Antakya city center and is a beautiful promenade place. This ancient city is the famous city of Daphne of the ancient ages. According to the legend, Apollo, son of Zeus and god of light sees a young and beautiful lady named Daphne and falls in love with her. The god wants to speak and tell her his love. But the afraid young Daphne starts to run away from the god. After a short chase, Daphne understands that she could not escape from the god. She prays "O mother earth, cover me, hide me, protect me". Then Daphne was transformed into a tree under the astonished looks of Apollo. After this event the victories of poetry and warfare starts to be awarded by the branch of the Daphne tree. Another rumor is that the waterfalls of Harbiye was formed from the tears of Daphne. The city of Daphne was famous with its waterfalls in Selevkos periods and was a worldwide famous promenade place. There were numerous mansions, temples and entertainment facilities. The arranged Olympic games at the stadium of the city was legendary. However severe earthquakes had destroyed this beautiful ancient city and there have been no visual structures or artworks left.
Harbiye is now a famous and beautiful promenade place located at a plateau and also is an important district with the discovered and uncovered statues and touristic souvenirs. The natural silk clothing produced in the district with workbenches are highly demanded both in the country and abroad.
Tel Aççana: The ancient city is located on the Antakya - Reyhanlı highway. There are two palace ruins from 5th century B.C. 17 different settlement layers were determined. The archeological findings discovered here are exhibited in Hatay Archeology Museum.
Kinet Tumulus: It is at the vicinity of Dörtyol. The excavations are still in progress. At this excavations remnants of various periods were discovered.
Necropolis: Rock and earthen burial grounds were discovered in Kuzuculu and Karakese belonging to the 2nd - 3rd A.D and 4th - 5th centuries A.D , respectively. From the executed excavations, tombs, glass bottles and pots, cooked earthen pots, oil lamps and signets was discovered.
Ceylanlı: This locality was a settlement place in the Byzantine and Gündüzoğu Domain periods and there are ruins scattered in the region. The nearby rocks contain rock tombs with inscriptions on them.
İmma: There was a settlement place in the vicinity of Reyhanlı, on the Antakya - Cilvegözü road which was known as "İmma", place of settlement during ancient times.This location is famous for its promenade areas and tea gardens in the present day.
Tainat: The ruins of a Hittite palace and temple was discovered at the excavations in Tainat. The findings are exhibited in Hatay Archeology Museum.
Çevlik: This ancient city was founded by Seleukos Nikator in 300 B.C. In order to prevent the filling of the inner part by the floods from mountains, a tunnel construction was initiated in the period of Emperor Vespesian but this tunnel was completed only in the period of Titus. The most frequently visited location is the Beşikli Cave in which the rock tombs are present.
Dor Temple: It is possible to spot the ruins of pillars over a dominant hill at the Çevlik locality of Kapısuyu region .
|
Water Channels
It is still possible to see the ruins of the 10 km long channels and bridges, which was constructed to bring water to Antakya from Harbiye (Daphne) waterfall in the periods of Seleukos and Roman civilizations. The only section that is inside the borders of Antakya is known as Memekli Bridge.
|
St.Piyer Church
|
RELIGIOUS MONUMENTS
Mosques and Churches
Hatay is an important center for faith tourism and the first Catholic Church of the world, Saint Pierre Church is located inside the borders of Hatay province. Hatay holds an important place in the history of Christianity and is also one of the four great Patriarchate centers in the world.
The most important monasteries of the region are St. Simon Stylite Monastery, Yayladağı Barleam Monastery and Keldağı Barleam Monastery.
The important mosques of the region could be counted as Habib Neccar Mosque, Şeyh Ahmet Kuseyri Mosque and Mausoleum, Külliye of Sokullu Mehmet Paşa, Külliye of Payas Sokullu and Ulu Mosque.
St. Pierre Church (Center): It is on the Antakya - Reyhanlı road and at feet of Habibi Neccar Mountain. It is believed that St. Pierre, which was turned into a church while it was a natural cavern, is the first church of the world. Also it was firstly called the persons who are following Jesus Chirst, as "Chirstian" in the history in this church.
Church, is an important religious center as being the place where one of the 12 saints of Jesus Christ, St. Pierre tried to spread the Christianity after death of Jesus Christ. On 1963, it is announced as a hajj place by Papa VI. Paul. Every year on 29th of June a ceremony is performed here.
There are mosaic residues at the floor and frisks on the walls of the church.
|
St. Simon Monastery (Samandağ)
Baptism place, cistern and other architectural ruins can be seen in Saint Simon Monastery which is known to the center of the Leaving World Sect. Church.
It was constructed in the name of St. Simon in VI. A.D. It is believed that St. Simon retired into seclusion on 20 meters high column and lived there for 45 days.This experience of St. Simon has been recoreded to the Guinness Book of Records.The pedestal of the column can also be seen today.
|
|
« go back to list
|
|
 |
|
|
Resort Pictures |
|
|
|
General View
|
|
|
Harbiye Streams
|
|
|
Old city walls
|
|
|
Foods
|
|
|
|
