Antakya Old Town (Ancient Antioch)

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.

History

Capital of the Hellenistic Seleucid Empire, the city passed to Rome under Pompey in 64 BC and became the seat of the province of Syria; among the three largest cities of antiquity, it was called the "Second Rome" and the cradle of Christianity — according to the New Testament, the name "Christian" was first used here. The Seleucids laid the city out on a Hippodamian grid with wide colonnaded and even street-lit avenues; over the centuries, on the eastern bank of the Asi (Orontes) River, this plan evolved into a classic Middle Eastern fabric of narrow winding lanes, dead ends, courtyard stone houses, hans (caravanserais) and bazaars.

Cultural Fabric and Significance

This layered fabric — the Uzun Çarşı (Long Bazaar), the Habib-i Neccar Mosque, historic hans, churches and a synagogue — embodies the city's identity as a "city of three faiths," where mosque, church and synagogue stood side by side. Its tourism value lies in this rare cultural texture; agencies favor Antakya as the heart of a half- to full-day cultural route linking the Hatay Archaeology Museum mosaics, the Church of St. Peter and its celebrated gastronomy.

Visiting, Post-Earthquake Status and Access

An old-town walk typically takes 2-4 hours; with the museum and nearby stops, the Antakya core needs a half to full day (4-6 hours). The strongest photo spots are the narrow stone lanes, han courtyards, bazaar façades and the Habib-i Neccar minaret.

Important note: the earthquakes of 6 February 2023 destroyed over 80% of the city; the old town was heavily damaged and many monuments remain closed or under construction. A conservation plan for the 307-hectare historic center is in force under the Culture Ministry, the World Monuments Fund and a design council; phased reconstruction is ongoing and full recovery will take years. Group tours should therefore be planned flexibly around current accessibility.

Access: Antakya is reached via Hatay Airport and by road through İskenderun/Belen; the old town is largely pedestrian. Tour coaches park at the Archaeology Museum / Necmi Asfuroğlu lot or the St. Peter lot, from where groups walk in. Parking exists at these two points. Disabled access is limited — narrow, sloping and quake-damaged stone surfaces are challenging for wheelchairs.

The best season is spring (April-May) and autumn (September-October); summers are hot and humid, so a midday break is advised. Peak season is the spring and autumn culture-gastronomy window. Recommended route: start from the museum/north entrance and walk south along Uzun Çarşı → Kurtuluş Avenue → Habib-i Neccar → the hans, then finish with St. Peter and Harbiye.