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From a sleepy town
famous for its pistachio
nuts, Gaziantep has grown
to be the commercial
powerhouse
of Turkey's Southeast (map).
At the city center is the Kale (citadel)
which is truly ancient, dating back
some 9000 years. Clustered around it
are some historic neighborhoods which
preserve some old stone houses among
the characterless modern ones.
Because it is a booming business center,
Gaziantep has lots of good hotels and
even a few historic inns.
The Coppersmiths' Bazaar (Bakırcılar
Çarşısı) on
the south side of the Kale has been
spruced up and
is well worth some
time. Coppersmiths and other artisans
work at their crafts in the narrow
streets, now shaded by modern coverings
from the intense sun and infrequent
rains.
The Archeological
Museum holds the Roman mosaics
recovered from the inundation of ancient Zeugma by
a dam project.
The Hasan Süzer
Ethnographic Museum is an interesting
old restored Gaziantep house fully
furnished in the fashion of the late
19th and early 20th century.
In recent years the quiet old pistachio-growers'
town has seen modern office buildings
rise in its center, and high-rise
apartment blocks crowd its outskirts.
Its population is pushing toward a
million...but it still grows some of
the best
pistachios in
the world. Try 'em plain, or in the
local baklava, which
is wonderful.
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