Gaziantep is one of the oldest and most culturally rich cities in Turkey, located in the southeast of the country, near the Syrian border.
It is known as the "city of flavors and crafts" and as the "gateway to Mesopotamia".
Gaziantep is a place where oriental generosity, ancient history and world-class cuisine come together in a unique Anatolian spirit.

📍 Geography and climate

• Region: Southeastern Anatolia

• Population: about 2.1 million people

• Elevation: 850 meters above sea level

• Climate: semi-arid

  • Summer: hot and dry (+35-40°C)

  • Winter: is mild (+5-10°C).

• Feature: the city is located on the ancient trade route between the Mediterranean and Mesopotamia, which made it a cultural and gastronomic crossroads of civilizations.

🏛 History

Gaziantep is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.
Its history dates back more than 6,000 years, and during that time the city has changed many rulers, from the Hittites to the Ottomans.

📜 Major eras:

• 🏺 Hittites and Assyrians (2nd millennium BC) - the first settlements on the site of the modern city.

• 🏛 Roman and Byzantine periods - the city was called Dolicha and later Antioch-on-Tahe.

• ⚔️ Arab and Seljuk rule - the city becomes a major trade and craft center.

• 🌙 O ttoman Empire - known as Ayıntab, one of the richest cities in Anatolia.

• 🇹🇷 Republic of Turkey: received the prefix "Gazi" ( hero ) after its heroic defense in 1920 against French occupation - becoming Gaziantep.

📖 The name "Antep" is derived from the Hittite word "Kant-tep" - "sacred spring".

🕌 Main attractions

🏰 Gaziantep Fortress (Gaziantep Kalesi)

• The heart of the city and the main symbol.

• Originally built by the Romans, it was fortified by the Byzantines.

• Today here is the Museum of the Defense of Gaziantep, dedicated to the heroic resistance of the citizens in 1920.

🏛 Zeugma Mosaic Museum (Zeugma Mozaik Müzesi)

• One of the largest mosaic museums in the world.

• It contains antique mosaics from the town of Zeugma, which was flooded during the construction of the dam.

• The most famous exposition is "The Eye of Zeugma" (a mosaic of a girl whose eyes became the symbol of Gaziantep).

• It amazes with the scale, art and preservation of the artifacts.

🕌 Kurtuluş Mosque (Kurtuluş Camii)

• A fine example of neoclassical architecture.

• Formerly an Armenian church building, later converted into a mosque.

🏺 Gaziantep Archaeological Museum

• The expositions cover eras from Neolithic to Byzantine.

• Of particular interest are artifacts from the ancient cities of Karkemish, Doliha, and Zeugma.

🏘 Zincirli Bazaar (Zincirli Bedesten)

• One of the oldest covered markets in Turkey.

• It sells spices, textiles, copper, carpets and famous sweets.

• The atmosphere is that of an oriental bazaar with smells of coffee and pistachios.

🍽 Gaziantep's cuisine is the pride of Turkey

Gaziantep is the gastronomic capital of Turkey, included in the UNESCO Cities of Gastronomy network .
Its cuisine is a combination of Ottoman, Arabic and Anatolian traditions, with an emphasis on meat, pistachios and spices.

🍢 Main dishes:

• Ali Nazik Kebabı - Fried minced meat on a bed of mashed eggplant with yogurt.

• Beyran Çorbası - spicy lamb and rice soup, a traditional breakfast of Antep residents.

• Küşleme - tender meat from the coals, considered an elite kebab.

• Antep Lahmacun - a thin flatbread with meat and herbs, flavorful and crispy.

• Yuvalama - a dish of tiny meat meatballs in yogurt sauce, made for holidays.

🍬 Sweets:

• Baklava Antep Fıstıklı - the legendary baklava with pistachios that made Gaziantep famous around the world.

• Katmer is a dessert made of thin dough with pistachios and cream.

• Fıstık Ezmesi - pistachio paste, the analog of pistachio cream.

💡 Pistachio from Gaziantep is a reference in taste and is considered the most flavorful in the world.

🧿 Culture and traditions

• Copper and Carving: Gaziantep is the capital of copper crafts. Bakırcılar Çarşısı street is a paradise for handicraft connoisseurs.

• Coffee and spices: the city is famous for its Baharat spice blend and Antep-style coffee, aromatic and thick.

• Folklore: local music is oriental, dominated by drums and zurna.

• Hospitality: it is customary here to invite even a random passerby for tea or kebab.

🏞 Nature and surroundings

🏺 The ancient town of Zeugma

• 50 km from Gaziantep.

• Founded by Alexander the Great.

• Famous for its villas with magnificent mosaics.

🌄 Euphrates River and Birecik Dam

• Majestic views, boat rides and fishing.

🏜 Rumkale.

• A fortress on a cliff between two rivers, the Euphrates and the Merzimen.

• According to legend, one of the apostles lived here and it is one of the most sacred places in the region.

🚗 How to get there

• ✈️ Gaziantep Airport (GZT) - receives domestic and international flights (Istanbul, Ankara, Dubai, Beirut).

• 🚄 Trains and buses - regular connections to Adana, Urfa, Konya, Istanbul.

• 🚗 By D400 highway - 2 hours to Şanlıurfa and 3 hours to Adana.

✅ Why go to Gaziantep

✔ Turkey's most delicious cuisine 🍽️
✔ Unique ancient mosaics and archaeology
✔ Oriental flavor and authenticity
✔ City of heroes and crafts
✔ Comfortable tourism and developed infrastructure

📌 Conclusion

Gaziantep is the taste of Turkey, its smell, its ancient heart.
A city where you can see ancient mosaics in the morning, walk around the oriental bazaar in the afternoon, and enjoy hot baklava and tea in the evening to the sound of the zurna.
It unites past and present, luxury and simplicity, East and West.

"Whoever has not tasted baklava from Gaziantep does not know what the sweetness of life is."