GAZIANTEP: City of Gastronomy
Gaziantep is one of the modern provinces of the region and also one of the oldest of Hittite origin. Being the center of pistachio nut cultivation in Turkey and with its extensive olive groves and vineyards, Gaziantep is one of the important, industrial centers of Turkey.
In the center of the city stands the Gaziantep Fortress and the Ravanda citadel as the reminders of past. The Archeological Museum, with its important collections from Neolithic and the Hittite ages as well as the Roman and Commagene times, attracts many visitors.
The Zeugma Mosaic Museum deserves a particular interest, since it houses the richest collections of Roman mosaics in the world and it is the biggest mosaic museum in the world.The surroundings of the city are also full of valuable Hittite remains. The Süzer House, which has been restored to its original beauty, now houses the Ethnographical Museum.
The Yesemek Sculpture Workshop, 30 km south of the town of Islahiye, is one of the world’s first of this kind. Some of the other historical remains are the Belkis, and Kargamış Ruins by the town of Nizip. Dülük which is close to the city center is ideal for those who would like to rest in a natural setting amidst forest and has camping facilities.
Gaziantep is famous for its three regional specialties. First is the copperware products you will not want to pass up. The delicious lahmacun (a kind of pizza) is the second, while the third is the sweet pastry baklava, which Gaziantep makes the best in the world.