Looking for new flavors, cultural richness and happiness? Turkey's Gaziantep will be the perfect fit. As part of Turkish Sabah daily's provincial meeting activities, this month we delve into Gaziantep to explore all facets of this fascinating city.
Nestled in southern Turkey near the Syrian border, Gaziantep is a city slowly but surely emerging as a holiday destination. It has a very distinct personality among other Turkish cities and popular locations such as Istanbul and Bodrum. As the home of ancient history, culture and exceptional cuisine, the city is one of the most unique places for a weekend getaway.
Antep will change the way you eat
Declared a "Creative City of Gastronomy" by UNESCO in December 2015, Gaziantep cuisine holds a special place in Turkish cookbook with its traditional abundance of flavor, especially spices.
So, you might as well forget about your diet if you plan on visiting Gaziantep because the meat dishes, desserts and pastries are anything but bland and low-calorie.
Deemed "The Magnificent Trio", a typical day in Gaziantep starts with liver, beyran (a lamb-based broth with rice much like 'kelle paça') and katmer (fried layers of phyllo dough wrapped around pistachio, buttermilk and sugar). Yes, these Antep specialties are for breakfast, and no, they are not for the weak stomached. Such unusual choices for breakfast may take some getting used to but for locals this triple delight is part of their daily nutrition chain.
First time visitors could start their culinary tasting experience at Ali Haydar Usta's place and taste some ciğer (liver) between 5 and 8 a.m., then head to Kebapçı Halil Usta for some 'küşleme' and kebabs before ending the day at İmam Çağdaş for some Ali Nazik kebabs (eggplant puree with yoghurt and seasoned grounded meat) or lahmacun (thin crispy dough topped with minced meat, minced vegetables and herbs). For snacks in between meals, a chickpea wrap, katmer, baklava or anything covered in the greenest of Antep's pistachios will surely satisfy your cravings.
Among these mouth-watering delights, baklava holds a special place in Gaziantep culture. It's no surprise that the rich and sweet dessert made of layers of phyllo pastry filled with nuts and syrup received the coveted protected status by the EU in 2013. Also we must add: one does not simply attempt to make baklava at home while in Antep; it must be bought from a baklava shop.
To top it all off, and to aid digestion, you could try 'Menengiç kahvesi' (an aromatic coffee made from roasted Pistachio tree seeds) or some thyme-flavored 'zahter' tea at the famous coffee shop "Tahmis Kahvesi". The shop, in business since 1635, was also frequented by Ottoman Sultan Murad IV.
The coffee will surely leave an impression on your taste buds, and as we say in Turkey "the memory of a good cup of Turkish coffee lasts 40 years."
Although the food will definitely be the highlight of your trip, there is so much more to uncover in this vibrant city.
Apart from being a culinary wonderland, Gaziantep also draws millions of tourists each year thanks to its rich history and culture.
The city's previous name 'Antep' received the prefix "Gazi" (veteran) in 1921, when Turkey's parliament honored the southern city for its resistance against foreign forces during the Turkish War of Independence.
Before that, Gaziantep witnessed the most powerful eras of the Romans, Hittites, Anatolian Seljuks and the Ottomans.
Gaziantep Mayor Ayşe Şahin said that the city puts great importance on preserving this heritage, adding that over the past years dozens of inns, mosques and baths were restored to form a "Culture Road."
One of Gaziantep's most popular museums is definitely the Zeugma Mosaic Museum, which is the biggest of its kind in the world, with the tourist favorite "Gipsy Girl."
If you want to meet the cheerful tradespeople of Gaziantep, you should get lost in the city's famous bazaars. The traditional Coppersmiths' Bazaar (Bakırcılar Çarşısı) offers a wide range of handcrafts made of copper and pearls, while the 250-year-old Almacı (Elmacı) Bazaar is the place to shop for dried vegetables, and any spice or herb you can think of.
Gaziantep's most time-consuming but must-see spot is the city's zoo, which is known to be the fourth biggest zoo in the world. The Gaziantep Zoo houses a total of 7,000 animals from 270 species. Scattered over a large area, you can enjoy a nice day among lions, tigers, deer and monkeys, and even observe the fascinating safari section where animals freely roam.
With a population of two million, Gaziantep currently houses around 500,000 refugees. The municipality has made important investments in special schools and hospitals for migrants, while also covering all of their health care costs.
According to World Bank experts, Gaziantep is one of the seven most competitive cities. There are currently 900 Syrian businesses registered to the Gaziantep Chamber of Commerce, and 40 Chamber of Industry-registered Syrian manufacturers. Syrian refugees, who have fled the ongoing civil war in their country, are encouraged by the people of Gaziantep to join the community and build a new future.
Gaziantep by numbers
Gaziantep has a population of around 2 million and houses 500,000 refugees
The city has a total of 4 universities and is home to thousands of students
Over the past 4 years, 5 new museums have been built in the city
Gaziantep's 8 museums were visited by 768,000 people in 2017
The city has a 250-kilometer-long bicycle road.
