Two Cities of Gastronomy: Gaziantep – Hatay — 3 Days

Arrival in Gaziantep and check-in. The day covers Zeugma Mosaic Museum, Gaziantep Castle, Gaziantep Defence and Heroism Panorama Museum and Coppersmiths' Bazaar. The Zeugma Mosaic Museum stands on Hacı Sani Konukoğlu Boulevard in the Mithatpaşa neighbourhood of Gaziantep's Şehitkamil district, and opened to the public on 9 September 2011.

1. 08:30 - 10:15 Zeugma Mosaic Museum· 105 dk

   Suitable for tour coaches; a large car park and drop-off/pick-up area on the boulevard frontage makes group entry easy. Parking: A large free/paid visitor car park on the boulevard; the surrounding car parks of the adjacent 100th Year Atatürk Culture Park can also be used.

   The Gypsy Girl private gallery; elevated mosaic terraces and gallery bridges; reconstructed Roman villa floors and wall paintings; large mosaic panels in the entrance atrium.

2. 10:45 - 11:45 Gaziantep Castle· 60 dk

   Tour coaches drop passengers on the boulevards at the foot of the castle, then are directed to nearby car parks. There is no vehicle access for coaches up to the summit; the final stretch is on foot. Parking: The Şehreküstü car park and the car parks around the castle; the car parks around the 100th Year Atatürk Culture Park can also be used.

   The viewing terraces atop the ramparts (city skyline panorama); the main entrance bridge; the cut-stone texture of the 12 bastions; the wide-angle view up from the foot of the mound. Late-afternoon light turns the stone surfaces golden.

   Partly limited: the castle sits on an artificial mound and involves stairs. Ramps and arrangements were improved after the restoration; wheelchair users are advised to come with a companion.

3. 12:15 - 13:15 Lunch — local flavour stop· 60 dk

   Lunch break of regional cuisine (outside half-board).

   Local spread and presentation shots.

4. 13:15 - 14:10 Gaziantep Defence and Heroism Panorama Museum· 55 dk

   Tour coaches cannot enter the narrow historic streets; they generally drop off and pick up passengers at wider boulevard/square points at the foot of the castle, and the group walks up. Guides need to plan the drop-off/pick-up point in advance. Parking: Limited street and municipal parking is available immediately around the castle; it is more practical to use the multi-storey/open car parks in the historic bazaar area and walk to the castle. Since central car parks can fill up in peak season, an early visit is recommended.

   The panoramic view over all of Gaziantep from the castle ramparts is the strongest shot; the row of defence-hero statues along the entrance ramp; the stone bridge and gate leading up to the castle; the view of the Ulu Mosque and historic townscape from the bastions; the 360-degree panoramic wall painting among the indoor dioramas.

   Because the castle sits on a hill, access involves sloped ramps, stone paths and stairs; it is difficult for wheelchair users and visitors with limited mobility, and assistance is required. Although the walkways have been renewed after the restoration, fully barrier-free access remains limited; confirming the current status before visiting is advised.

5. 14:40 - 15:25 Coppersmiths' Bazaar· 45 dk

   Tour coaches cannot enter the narrow stone lanes; they drop off at the car park/set-down points around the castle, and groups walk down to the bazaar. Parking: There is no vehicle access into the bazaar itself; the nearest options are the designated car park around the castle and paid/street parking on neighbouring streets, a few minutes' walk from the bazaar.

   The narrow, stone-paved lane running between facing rows of arched shopfronts; a portrait of the master hammering copper at the anvil; workbench displays hung with polished pans, ewers and trays; the texture of the keymıh-stone facades in morning light.

   Limited: the paved, occasionally sloping ground and arched or stepped shop entrances make wheelchair access difficult; accompanied visits are advised.

6. 15:55 - 17:40 Free time — bazaar, centre & shopping· 105 dk

   Free time to explore the bazaar and support local trade (~1.5–2 hours).

   Street texture, tradespeople and handicrafts.

Route Gaziantep, Gaziantep (Şehitkamil), Gaziantep (Şahinbey)

Transfer from Gaziantep to Hatay. The day covers Church of St. Peter (Cave Church), Necmi Asfuroğlu Archaeology Museum & The Museum Hotel Antakya (world's largest single-piece mosaic) and Uzun Çarşı (Long Bazaar) & Historic Hans. Carved into the lower slope of Mount Habib-i Neccar (ancient Silpius/Starius) on the northeastern edge of Antakya, the Church of St.

1. 08:30 - 11:00 Transfer from Gaziantep to Hatay· 150 dk

   Inter-city transfer in an air-conditioned vehicle; short rest stop en route.

2. 11:00 - 11:40 Church of St. Peter (Cave Church)· 40 dk

   Tour coaches can drive up to the entrance car park; since the final stretch of the approach road is narrow, morning hours are preferred. Parking: Parking is available at the church entrance (Küçükdalyan road).

   The entrance terrace and stone facade (together with the rock mass above); the altar and marble statue of St. Peter inside the cave; a panorama of the Antakya plain from the facade.

   Limited; the stone stairs leading to the entrance and the sloped approach are difficult for wheelchairs, and the cave floor is uneven.

3. 12:10 - 13:10 Necmi Asfuroğlu Archaeology Museum & The Museum Hotel Antakya (world's largest single-piece mosaic)· 60 dk

   Well suited to tour coaches; direct entry and exit at the museum car park, with trouble-free drop-off and pick-up. Parking: The Necmi Asfuroğlu Museum car park (city's northern entrance) — suitable for cars and coaches, with ample capacity.

   The suspended walkways where light filtering between the steel columns frames the mosaics; the upper terrace overlooking the world's largest single-piece floor mosaic; the exterior showing the hotel 'floating' above the ruins and the forest of columns; the display case of the intact Eros statue.

4. 13:40 - 14:40 Lunch — local flavour stop· 60 dk

   Lunch break of regional cuisine (outside half-board).

   Local spread and presentation shots.

5. 14:40 - 16:10 Uzun Çarşı (Long Bazaar) & Historic Hans· 90 dk

   Tour coaches cannot enter the narrow stone streets; they generally drop off at wide points around Kurtuluş/Kemalpaşa Streets or nearby museum car parks, and passengers walk a short distance into the bazaar. Parking: There is no parking within the bazaar itself; vehicles are left in roadside and municipal car parks around Kurtuluş and Kemalpaşa Streets, and the bazaar is entered on foot from there.

   The stone-arched courtyard and two-storey arcades of Kurşunlu Han; the narrow covered tradesmen's lanes; colourful spice, laurel-soap and za'atar stalls; the copper trays of kunefe masters; the façade of the Sokullu (Yeni) Mosque and the stone arches at the bazaar entrance.

   Limited. Kerbless, sloping and sometimes uneven stone surfaces, together with narrow lanes, are challenging for wheelchair users and visitors with reduced mobility; a companion is recommended. Post-earthquake construction areas may further restrict access.

6. 16:40 - 18:25 Free time — bazaar, centre & shopping· 105 dk

   Free time to explore the bazaar and support local trade (~1.5–2 hours).

   Street texture, tradespeople and handicrafts.

Route Hatay, Antakya

The day covers Antakya Old Town (Ancient Antioch), Hatay Archaeology Museum and Antakya Künefe & Cuisine (UNESCO City of Gastronomy). Antakya Old Town is the living core of ancient Antioch (Antioch on the Orontes), founded in 300 BC by Seleucus I Nicator, one of Alexander the Great's generals. Transfer at the end of the tour.

1. 08:30 - 11:30 Antakya Old Town (Ancient Antioch)· 180 dk

   Tour coaches cannot enter the old town's fabric; they use the Archaeology Museum / Necmi Asfuroğlu car park or the St. Peter car park, and groups continue on foot from there. Parking: The Hatay Archaeology Museum / Necmi Asfuroğlu car park (north entrance) and the St. Peter Church car park (at the foot of the hill) are the main parking points.

   Narrow stone lanes and dead ends, han courtyards, Uzun Çarşı façades, the Habib-i Neccar minaret and dome, the Kurtuluş Avenue axis, the old town's silhouette from the bridge over the Asi (Orontes) River.

   Limited. Narrow, sloping and quake-damaged stone surfaces are challenging for wheelchair users and visitors with reduced mobility; an escort is recommended.

2. 12:00 - 13:45 Free time — bazaar, centre & shopping· 105 dk

   Free time to explore the bazaar and support local trade (~1.5–2 hours).

   Street texture, tradespeople and handicrafts.

3. 13:45 - 14:45 Lunch — local flavour stop· 60 dk

   Lunch break of regional cuisine (outside half-board).

   Local spread and presentation shots.

4. 14:45 - 16:30 Hatay Archaeology Museum· 105 dk

   Tour coaches can drive directly into the museum car park to drop off and pick up passengers; ample manoeuvring space is available. Parking: The museum has its own large visitor car park with sufficient capacity for cars and coaches.

   Overhead frames from the walkway bridges looking down onto the huge floor mosaics; in front of the Yakto (Abandoned Ariadne) and Megalopsychia hunt panels; the general interior view of the wide-span contemporary exhibition hall.

5. 17:00 - 17:40 Antakya Künefe & Cuisine (UNESCO City of Gastronomy)· 40 dk

   Tour coaches drop off at the bazaar entrance / museum car park; the künefe-shop streets are reached on foot, as vehicle access is restricted in the narrow lanes. Parking: The Hatay Archaeology Museum / Necmi Asfuroğlu car park and the municipal car parks around the bazaar are the most practical options for the central künefe shops.

   The çiğ köfte kneading and serving of künefe cooking on the copper tray over open flame; the stretching cross-section of fresh cheese; the moment of sprinkling pistachios; the tel kadayıf masters' counters in Uzun Çarşı; and the pouring of hot syrup.

   Varies by venue; ground-floor salons opening onto the street are wheelchair-suitable, while historic han interiors and stepped entrances can be restrictive.

Route Hatay, Antakya