About Gaziantep

Gaziantep has been the home of various civilizations throughout the history because of its geographical location. The city is between Mesopotamia and Mediterrenean lands, it has been housed since the pre-historic ages, the historical silk road passes through the city, it is at the intersection point of the roads. All these reasons have made the city popular in commercial, cultural and artistic fields so far.

The Indepence War and Gaziantep Defense have a very important place in its history. 6317 people in Gaziantep died while serving in the defense of Gaziantep. And, that is why the city was given the title ‘Ghazi’. It has become the symbol of fighter spirit of the people in Gaziantep. Likewise, this fighter spirit has played a dominant role in every field of life, while transferring from generation to generation.

Gaziantep has canalized its power remained from the Indepence War period, in to the production and investment.
Gaziantep, internationally famous for its handicrafts, food, baklava and pistachio, has gained a new title with the mosaics excavated from the ancient city Zeugma and the city has been started to be mentioned as ‘The City of Mosaics’.

The history of Gaziantep dates back to the B.C. 5600 and it has been accepted as one of the oldest cities in the world.

In terms of historic ages, after Calcoholitic, Paleolitic, Neolitic ages, the city has a rich history consisting Mesopotamia, Hittite, Mitani, Assyrian, Persian, Alexanderian, Hellenic, Selefcos, Roman, Byzantine, Islamic Arab and Turkish-Islamic civilizations. Calcoholitic Age, the start of using copper beside stone, is represented in the region in Sakçagözü and Coba tumulus settlements. The objects of Bronze Age, a later settlement than Calcoholitic Age, had been found in Gedikli, Tilmen tumulus and Sakçagözü excavations.

The excavations in Sakçagözü Tilmen tumulus, Zincirli, Yesemek and Karkamıs have shown that there had been a big state consisted 20 small kingdoms in the region of Gaziantep between B.C. 1800-1700.
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Don't go without...

Visiting the largest mosaic museum in the world the Zeugma Mosaic Museum, going around at the old streets and restored historical Antep houses, and relaxing afterwards with a cup of menengiç coffee, touring the Culture Route and museums, and doing some shopping, taking a boat trip on the Birecik Dam Lake and Euphrates River to see Rumkale, seeing the ruins of ancient Doliche, the Temple of Mithras and the Mausoleums of Elif, Hisar and Hasanoğlu, sampling the typical local dishes, kebabs and desserts, and rounding off your meal with some menengiç (terebinth) “coffee” or some zahter (thyme) tea.

What to Buy?

Handicrafts are highly developed in Gaziantep, so in the old bazaars you can find items inlaid with mother-of-pearl, copper wares, woven kutnu fabric, ties, shawls, scarves, hand-made pure leather yemeni shoes, slippers, the hand embroidery known as “Antep İşi”, and hand-made rugs and kilims.
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What to Eat?
When you come to Gaziantep, if you wish you may begin your breakfast with Beyran Çorbası, a local lamb and rice soup, or perhaps a lamb’s liver kebab (cağırtlak), or a sweet katmer pastry with ground pistachio nuts and plenty of cream.
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