Gaziantep Travel Guide

When we observe Gaziantep throughout the history, we can find out about its very rich architecture which goes back in the history. If we mention the buildings in the city character, we should mention first houses, mosques, shopping centers, baths. It is possible to observe the influence of the climate, topographic characteristics, plantation and social life while building these structures.

It has the architecture suitable to the Northern Mesopotamian tradition as a typical Islamic city. Other buildings take place around the religious ones and are developed as integrated buildings.
Because it has the steppe climate and summers are very hot, the concept of having a yard is very important in the architecture. The yards are called 'Hayat' as most of life is spent there.

In Gaziantep manufacturing and trading have gained more importance than agriculture.

Many shopping centers were built in the settlements towards to Kozluca and around the castle. Tuz Ham, lki Kapili Han, Hiþva Haný, Yüzükçü Haný, Millet Haný were very busy shopping centers in the 16'h century.

Streets are very narrow and shady. There are some places called 'kabaltý' which are houses with a road beneath. There are only six 'kabaltý''s nowadays. There are also blocked streets called 'dehliz'.

Gaziantep Houses
Gaziantep houses are made of soft calcareous stones called 'havara' or 'keyrnik' and have thick walls. Generally, they are one-or two-storeyed, but there are some three-storeyed ones too.

The traditional Gaziantep houses displaying these features are situated mainly in the town center, in the Eyupogiu, Turktepe, Tepebaþý, Bostanci and Þehreküstü Quarters, and also near the Gaziantep Fortress.

BATHS
The baths, which were always a symbol of cleanliness, constituted an essential element of the social life of early times.The ones which have survived to present times are §eyh Fethullah Hamami, Huseyin Pa?a Hamami, Pa?a Hamami, Keyvanbey Hamami, lki Kapili Harnam, Naip Hamami, Nakipoglu Hamami, Tabak Hamami, Eski Harnam and Pazar Hamami.

KASTELS
The city of Gaziantep had poor water resources. In order to prevent the evaporation or loss of water, water was brought to the city through underground canals. In some parts of the canals water was saved by the building of large rooms (or underground reservoirs), which could be reached by long stairways. Of these facilities called 'Kastels', only lhsan Bey, Pi?irici, lrnarn Gazali and Kozluca kastels remain.

COVERED MARKETS (BEDESTEN)
Bedestens are long bazaars or markets, with a covered ceiling. The most important ones are Huseyin Pa?a Bedesteni, Kemikii Bedesten and Zincirii Bedesten.

a)COPPER-SMITHING
Gaziantep copper-smithing dates far back into history. Copper items are produced as a complete piece using no alloy or solder.

b) MOTHER OF PEARL
The art of mother of pearl, the raw materials of which are seashells, walnut wood and wire, was developed in Middle Eastern contries and was passed on to the Ottomans after the 15'th century. Mother of pearl has been used in architecture, gun armaments, and fur over the centuries, using various motifs and patterns.

c) SILVER EMBROIDERY
Silver relics unearthed from the tumuli and ancient cities in our region, like those from Karkamýþ and, Dülük show us that the use of silver in embroidery has been common since very early times in our area. Silver embroidery workshops indicate that this art has developed very quickly in Gaziantep and provides a significant amount of foreign currency income.

d) YEMENÝ SHOES
Yemeni are shoes with stout leather soles and red or black leather uppers. They are heel-less and are very practical. The person making the shoes is called a 'KÖÞKER'.

e) ANTEP ÝÞÝ
This is Antep embroidery on a white fabric using off-white threads decorated with white, yellow and beige yarns and using 'various embroidery techniques.

The work is called 'Antep Ýþi' or Antep work because it was first made by the housewives of Gaziantep and the surrounding area.
The fact that it retains the characteristics of the old style of Turkish embroidery shows that it is special to this area.

Nowadays, without spoiling the original embroidery techniques and by using silver and coloured threads, and embroidery needles, very beautiful embroidery is made.

Besides these handicrafts, we can mention many different handicrafts made in Gaziantep such as woollen cloth weaving, zurna making, rug weaving, silk weaving, earthenware jar making, golds works.