FOOD

The region is renowned for its food and spices.For example,thyme is picked from the mountains near the village of the Zahter where it grows in completely natural conditions.Thyme is used widely as it adds to flavor and taste and it is said that thyme is beneficial combating health problems.Thyme is locally known as "tahtaci otu","guvery otu" and "pervane otu" and it is beileved to reduce cholesterol,to prevent epileptic fits,to ease stomach and head aches ,that it relieves sudden spasms and is effective in the treatment of adolescent acne.Experts say that careful doses of thyme,thyme tea and thyme oil lead to many health problems resolving themselves.Dishes made with thyme :Thyme Salad consists of freshly picked thyme,onion,parsley,red peppers,olive oil and pomegranate essence.The refreshing taste of thyme and the fruity aftertaste to the olive oil leads to a heady flavour.

Thyme tea:Thyme tea is extremely useful for the digestive system.It eases digestion,is beneficial for stomach discomforts,increases the appetite,regulates menstrual bleeding,eases menstrual pains,strengthens the organism and prevents adolescent acne.

Thyme oil:Massaging a combination of virgin oil and thyme oil enables pain to subside and prevents it from expanding.

Thyme water: Drinking this enables parasites in the gut to be expelled.It has a soothing effect.It eases spasms and enables the body to function well.It is extremely beneficial for the stomach.It decreases cholesterol.It is effective against gallstones.It has a calming effect when used as a gargle aganst mouth,teeth and throat infections.It is effective in helping the body get rid of excessive fat..

HOTELS

AGA HOTEL
Phone:212 77 02

AKDENIZ HOTEL
Phone:212 45 85

ATAHAN HOTEL
Phone:215 80 06

HARBIYE HOTEL
Phone:231 42 12

HOTEL HAMAMAT
Phone:464 10 50

HOTEL SARA
Phone:231 33 80

JASMIN HOTEL
Phone:214 35 30

ONUR HOTEL
Phone:216 22 10

UZUNCARSI

There is a market in Hatay which has features which are not commonly seen in other cities.The road to the market is lined with 'kunefe' shops which is a sweet dessert made with cheese and syrup.These shops are open until late.The dessert here is prepared using unsalted cheese and is then covered with syrup,buffalo cream or ice-cream.The dessert is symbolic of the region.The versions of kunefe made in Hrbiye which are cooked in small frying pans are even more popular.The cheese and pomegranate vendors in Uzuncarsi are also very renowned.A huge variety of cheeses including goat's cheese made from goat's milk,sunme cheese which is cheese that is placed in hot water and stretched,cara cheese which is cut into cubes and rested underground,cokelek cheese which is made in the same manner but with the addition of items such as herbs and spices,breakfast village cheese which contains very little salt,unsalted kunefe cheese which is used in kunefe's, orme cheese which is plaited cheese which can be eaten in strips and is sold in knots and dil cheese.The vendors selling salted yoghurts which are eaten at breakfast and used soups are also worth looking at.

Pay a visit to the famous Antakya Uzuncarsi spice vendor where you will find regional products from Cetenli Village,Altinozu an Hatay.You xan also pick up stuffed vine leaves in olive oil,walnut jam,bitter orange jam,pepper-tomato paste,pomegranate essence,varieties of cheese and olives,pulses and dried and fresh thyme.In fact you can even find packages of millied boiled chichpeas which are used to make humus.

SAMANDAG

Samandag is a city located on the shores of the Mediterranean 25 kilometres from Antakya.It was founded in 310 B.C by King Seleukos 1 Nikador of the Selefki's, who called the city Pieria Seleucia.Seleukos beat his rival Antigonus in 312 and established in Seleucid State.Later when Antioch became capital of this state,Pierra-Seleucia became the most important port in the region..Samandag(Suveydiye) was occupied by the French during World War 1 . In 1939 it was annexed to the Turkish Republic together with the State of Hatay.Samandag was previously a sub-district annexed to Antakya which became a city in 1948.At the same time ,its name was changed from Suveydiye to Samandag after the mountain which is located nearby.

HARBIYE(DAPHNE)

Harbiye is located 7 kilometres from the city center on the E-91 motorway which leads into Syria and the Middle East.It is 55 kilometres from the border to Syria.Harbiye is a community which was established in 1939 when Hatay was annexed to the Republic of Turkey.Additionally,Harbiye is known worldwide by its ancient name of Daphne.It is perhapsone of the most picturesque locations not just in Hatay but in entire Southern Anatolia region.As it is with the Middle East ,it is frequented by visitors to these countries which has lead to a range of accommodation and is also home to the nicest picnic area in the region.It is surrounded by greenery and plentiful water which is reminiscent of heaven.

Fruits and vegetables grow in abundance in Harbiye which is enjoying a surge in the numbers of visitors who stop here on their way to other Middle Eastern Countries.Its restaurants,tourist hotels,B&B's , and areas for fun make it more attractive.

Harbiye is also renowned for its handicrafts.Its sculptures and silk are famed all over Turkey.Additionaly ,the area has an im portant place in the Turkish market for its manufacture of touristy gifts and weaving.

HABIB-I NECCAR MOSQUE

The mosque is located at the junction of Kurtulus Street and Kemalpasa Street.The mosque bears the name of a resident of Antakya who was the first believer in the disciples of Jesus and who sacrificed his life for them.Habib Neccar's tomb is located in the northeastern corner of the mosque at a depth of 4 meters.The mosque today is an Ottoman structure.It is surrounded by madrasa rooms and the fountain in the courtyard of the mosque dates back to the 19th century.

ST. PIERRE CHURCH

This cave-church is located to the northest of the city near the Reyhanli exit,and is the only surviving which pays testament to a time when Christianity was prevalent in Antakya..This cave is on the skirts of Mt.Stauris and it is said to be where St.Paul,St. Pierre and Barbanas gathered the first Christian congregation for mass.

ANTAKYA MAUSALEUM

It is estimated that Antakya Mausaleum was built between 265-270 A.D. This is supported by the gold coins depicting the Roman emperors Gordianus 2 and Emperor Gallienus and his wife Salonina whixh were uncovered here.

ANTAKYA-MYSTERIOUS BEAUTY

The region of Antakya is fascinating.The attraction of the region lies in its climatic conditions which have paved the way throughtout history for migrations,its fertile lands and the fact that it is located on an important route which connects Anatolia to Syria via the Cukurova road.


Antakya has a mysterious beauty which becomes more apparent to visitors when they learn about the history and the natural beauty of the city.When u examine the historical structures located in Antakya then actually you realize that the wealth of past centuries is not as evident as it should be.However,the reason fot this is all too obvious when you see the traces left behind of the conquests of the city and the ruins caused by huge earthquakes.


The history of Antakya can be traced back 2300 years.The first settlement on the site was in 8000 B.C. The city was founded by Seleukos,a commander of Alexander the Great,and was one the people who shared the empire after Alexander's death.The city was then home to civilizations incloding the Part,Sassanites,Byzantines,Abbasi,Aksits,Seljuk's,the Crusaders and the Memluks.The city was conquered by the Ottoman's duirng an expedition to Egypt undertaken by Yavuz Sultan Selim.The independent Republic of Hatay was founded in 1937 and in 1939.Hatay was annexed to the Republic of Turkey


All the historic artifacts dating back to the aforementioned civilizationns and cultures are preserved at the Archaeology Museum.The Museum is located in Antakya's Republic Square,on the shores of the River Asi and near the birdge.In the first few years of the scientific excavations which began in 1932,manyvarieties of historic artifacts were uncovered some of which were very precious.It was their discoveries which lead to the establishment of the museum.