GAZİANTEP HAKKINDA

Situated in one of the earliest settled areas of Anatolia, the point at which Mesopotamia meets the Mediterranean region, Gaziantep has been important in every age. The province borders Syria, Kilis, Şanlıurfa, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Osmaniye and Adıyaman and has been a center of attraction where various civilizations, cultures and belief have mixed throughout history.

Gaziantep has experienced the Paleolithic, Neolithic, Chalcolithic, Hittite, Mitanni, Assyrian, Persian, Alexandrian, Seleucid, Roman, Byzantine, Islamic, Seljuk, Turkish-Islamic and Ottoman periods and preserves signs and artifacts of all these ages. The city has an extensive transportation network with an international airport, railway and roads linked to the motorway. It is an industrial city which has assumed an important central position in Turkey’s trade with the Middle East, developed a distinctive pattern of industrialization, created potential and increased investments; and has also become a leading province in tourism with the increased investments in its cultural and tourism infrastructure in recent years. With reminders of the Turkish War of Independence, rich history and culture, popular museums-especially the zeugma Mosaic Museum, a wealth of handicrafts, the unique Gaziantep Cuisine which has remained true to its origins and preserved the rich local flavors, ancient ruins and historical buildings, Gaziantep has made an impression as an important touristic destination in recent years.

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. In the old bazaars and markets you will find many irresistible goods including: dried peppers, aubergines, squash and gherkins, hot pepper flakes, kuru zahter (a blend of thyme for infusions), kahvaltılık zahter (a thyme-based spice mix for breakfast time), bulgur (cracked wheat), simit (fine cracked wheat), haspir (safflower), local black and yellow raisins, sesame helva, pestil (dried fruit rollups), triangular muska sweets, tatlı sucuk (“sweet sausages” made with nuts and grape jelly) and pistachios. Other delicious foods to take home from Gaziantep are baklava (the kuru or “dry” kind, or yaş with a kind of cream and more syrup), kurabiye – cookies – plain or with pistachios, dolama, şöbiyet, havuç dilimi baklava and the traditional kahke cookies.

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. Be sure to try yuvarlama, a local home-made dish that is often served to guests and always on Bayram (Eid al-Fitr) mornings, dolmat, lahmacun with lots of vegetables and garlic, and kebabs – according to the season these may be with aubergine, fresh garlic, onions, keme- a type of truffle, or loquats. We are confident you will not find such a tasty Ali Nazik Kebab anywhere other than in Gaziantep. Besides all these dishes, don’t leave without trying Baklava, Havuç Dilimi Baklava, Şöbiyet, Dolama, and Antepfıstıklı Kadayıf.

DON’T GO HOME WITHOUT…

Visiting the largest mosaic museum in the world - the Zeugma Mosaic Museum, going round the old streets and restored historical Antep houses, and relaxing afterwards with a cup of menengiç kahvesi, a coffee-like drink, 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. Don’t miss these, whatever you do!