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GAZİANTEP The province of Gaziantep is one of the oldest culture centers of Southeastern Anatolian Region. The history of the city extends to 4000 B.C years and most of the civilizations were founded on the surrounding lands. The city is located between Mesopotamia and Mediterranean and is at the intersection point of the roads connecting east to south and north to west and is also located on the historic Silk Road. The province of Gaziantep hosts findings, creations and structures of Paleolithic, Neolithic and Calceolithic Ages, Bronze Age, Hittite, Median, Asurian, Persian, Alexander the Great, Selefkos, Roman, Byzantine, Abbasi and Seljuk civilizations periods. Beside its cultural riches, Gaziantep is a tourism paradise with its natural beauties, geography, rich variety of food and shopping possibilities. The people of Gaziantep are famous for their craftsmanship in copper and furniture inlaid with mother of pearl. Belkıs / Zeugma
Belkıs / Zeugma ancient city was founded by the general of Alexander the Great Seleukos Nikator in 3rd century B.C at the banks of the Kızılırmak River, 10 km east of Nizip district of Gaziantep, over an approximate area of 20 thousand acres.
The first name of the ancient city was Seleukeia Euphrates. The ancient city had entered under the reign of Roman Empire in 64 B.C and it was renamed as "Zeugma", which means "passage way" or "bridge". The ancient city of Belkıs / Zeugma was an important Legion city in the Roman and Byzantine Periods and was one of the most important four cities of Commagene civilization. At the skirts of the ancient city facing the Fırat River the mansions of the wealthy citizens was constructed and the floors of these houses were covered with numerous mosaics with high art value. Numerous rock tombs are located in the Necropolis and lots of tomb steles, statues and human skeletons were discovered. Dülük
This ancient city was located 10 km south of Gaziantep city center. The ancient city was located on the historical Silk Road. At the Şarklı Cave located in the borders of this ancient city, tools made of stone were discovered proving the settlement of the mankind in the region at 6000 B.C. The ancient city is known as Doliche in the history and was the religious center of Teşup, the master deity of Hittite civilization. Numerous rock tombs and churches carved into rocks are available for visit at Dülük village. Rumkale
Rumkale (Hromgla) Castle is located on a dominant hill covered with high and steep rocks at the western shores of Fırat River, where Fırat river joins with Merziman Creek at the Kasaba village of Yavuzeli District of Gazinatep province. It is estimated that the Johannes, Apostle of Jesus Christ live in the vicinity of Rumkale and try to spread Christianity in the Roman period at this locality and also it is estimated that Johannes hide his drafts of Holy Bible in a room carved in the rocks and later this Bible of Johannes was taken to Beirut. The tomb of Johannes is located in the castle and therefore the castle is a sacred place for Christians
Gaziantep is famous for its three regional specialties. First is the copper-ware products you will not want to pass up. The delicious lahmacun (a kind of pizza) is the second, while the third is the sweet pastry baklava, which Gaziantep makes the best in the world. 
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