Antioch (Hatay) – Antioch

city ​​history – Antioch was founded by Seleucus I Nicator, one of the diadochi of Alexander the Great and the progenitor of the Seleucid dynasty. Three hundred years BC. the city was founded on the left bank of the Orontes River (today Asi Nehri) and was later known as Antiochus ad Orontes, to distinguish it from other cities of the same name, founded by the kings of Syria. The city was established on the Hippodamaic plan (tooth. Priene i Milet) shaped like an elongated rectangle with an area of ​​approx. 250 ha. For two centuries, Antioch was the capital of the Syrian state, which made it the main political center of the state. In addition to the profits from this privileged position, the city also enjoyed great profits from trade, it was located at the intersection of trade routes. This was the route from Anatolia to the Arabian Peninsula, and also more important, on the east axis – West (from Europe to the Tigris and Euphrates). This is where the Silk Road ended, the city brokered trade with India and China. At the end of the years 80. i w. p.n.e. Syria was conquered by the Armenian king Tigranes, taking advantage of dynastic disputes in the Seleucid state. Soon after that, the capital of Syria, as well as the whole country fell into the hands of the Romans (66 p.n.e.), who made the city the capital of a province of Syria. It developed even more during their reign, reaching a population of almost 500 thousand. and second only to Rome and Egyptian Alexandria in this respect.

Christianity came to Antioch very early. The first community was established here in the middle of the 1st century. and was reportedly the first community in the history of this religion to be established outside of Palestine. Here, at last, the followers of Christ began to be called Christanoi for the first time. Saint Peter lived and taught in Antioch during the years 47 – 54 and the oldest church in the city was built under his command. W III to IV w. numerous synods and meetings of bishops were held here, and Antioch was the seat of one of them. At that time, the city was the main residence of the Byzantine emperors after Constantinople and an important intellectual center in the world at that time.. But the times of prosperity are over with the death of Justinian the Great (565), who was the last ruler to fund numerous buildings here (he rebuilt the city from the devastation caused by earthquakes and Persian attacks). At the beginning of the 7th century. Antioch fell into the hands of the Arabs, who sat here until 970 r. Then this city was recaptured by the Byzantines, but not for long, because already 110 years later they were occupied by the Seljuks. After 20 during the years of their rule, they were chased away by one of the leaders of the First Crusade – Bohemia, the Duke of Taranto, who founded a small state here called the Principality of Antioch. It existed until 1268 r., when it was captured by the Mamluk Sultan of Egypt and Syria, Bajbaras. He was not kind to the townspeople. Soldiers, who submitted to him, slaughtered (ok. 15 thousand), and the common population (in number 100 thousand) sent to Egypt to a slave market. The city was then completely destroyed and never recovered from such a tragic fall. In the Ottoman times it was a small village, which developed into a larger center again in the 19th century., and from 1918 r. it was occupied by the French under the Syrian mandate. They withdrew from the city as early as 1921 r., but Antioch was still part of Syria's mandate. It ended in 1939 r., when, after Ataturk's diplomatic and propaganda efforts, the city's citizens voted in favor of joining the Turkish Republic. From then on, Antioch is called Antakya.

Drive, orientation, connections

We will get to Antakya according to the itinerary from Adana. At least a dozen buses to Antakya depart from the bus station in Adana (5 USD, 3 time).

Ofogor is located north-east of the city center, to which we will come, turning left twice after leaving the station (we are heading there Istiklal Cad ) . The Asi Nehri River flows through the center of Antakya (on our right hand, if we go Istiklal Cad., behind the buildings). There is a bus station on the eastern side of the river, most hotels plus shopping area (bazar). All historic mosques and churches are also located on this part of the river. The west side is – one can say – a more representative part of Antakya, with newer buildings, post, town hall and museum, standing at the roundabout and at the same time the square – Republic Area (right behind the bridge).

Antakya maintains many connections with most of Turkey's major cities, and also with Haleb (5 USD, 1,5 time.) and other major cities in Syria.

Accommodation

In Antakya, we find hotels of every category. Most of them are concentrated on the eastern bank of the river.

Gastronomy

There are plenty of restaurants and locals in Antakya, and an additional advantage of the local cuisine is the culinary influences of Syria. Lots of places are concentrated at the station (here the cheapest ones), then at Istiklal Cad. i Hurriyet Cad. You can also eat cheaply at the bazaar. If we want to stock up on excellent vegetables and fruits, let's go to the minibazar north-east of the otogar.

Bathhouses

One of the most original baths, albeit not necessarily historic, is Kurtuluj Hamami lying at Kurtulus Cad., between Habibi Neccar Ca-mii and the Catholic Church. It's hard to find her, because the entrance is hidden among tenement houses and looks like a staircase of one of them. A bath costs money here 3 USD, and with washing – 3,5 USD. The bathhouse is a bit run down (maybe it's an Arabic style?).

Informant

From the next season, the tourist information office is to be located at the Vali Urgens Alam roundabout (west bank of the river), north of Cumhuriyet Alam (we'll get there Ataturk Cad.). However, if the office is not yet moved there, let's go to Hukumet Konagi (provincial government building) situated at the end of Hukumet Cad. (on the eastern side of the river). In the office we will get a map and a thin brochure in English (with loads of spelling mistakes) about the most important monuments and nearby attractions.