Gaziantep

Gaziantep (Ottoman Turkish; Ayintap), previously and as still used informally; Antep) (Kurdish: Dilok), is the capital city of Gaziantep Province in Turkey. It is considered to be among the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world. The city is the sixth largest in Turkey and the largest city in Turkey’s Southeastern Anatolia Region.

The old city known as Aintap is located 12 kilometers to the north of the present city, on the upper slopes of Nizip Hill. The area was continuously inhabited starting from the Paleolithic age and witnessed the domination of such powers as the Assyrians, Persians, Romans, the Byzantines, Abbasid and the Seljuk Turks. The times of ascend for the Ottoman Empire meant the same for the city. There are many mosques, inns, baths and medresse built during this time.
Original builders of Gaziantep Fortress are not known. The fortress was restored by the Byzantine in the 6th century. The fortress was later saw restoration again in 1481 during the time of Kayitbay, the Egyptian Sultan, and in 1557 during the Ottoman Emperor Suleyman the Magnificent. The fortress was supplemented by watchtowers, mosques and small palaces. There are 36 watchtowers in walls which have a circular shape for 1,200 meters. Mehmet Gazali Tomb, a mosque and a bath exist in the fortress. It is believed there are galleries and paths leading to the river under the fortress. The fortress was an important rampart in resistance against the French during the War of Liberation in 1921.

Gaziantep is the most developed city of GAP in agriculture, industry and commerce. It has its pistachio known by the name of the city. Vineyards and olive orchards are also important. Manufacturing activities in Gaziantep are mainly carried out by small scale enterprises. As a vivacious industrial and commercial center, Gaziantep has cement, textile, leather, shoemaking, soap, woodworks, metal and machinery industries and workshops. It maintains its status as an "export gate" by its 120 different products exported to 40 countries.
Author: Arif Cagrici