Courtyard at St. Peter's Cave Church
Our second day in Antakya, we visited St. Peter’s Cave Church, the Archeology (Mosaic) Museum, and the fortress above the city. St. Peter’s Cave Church is one of the first Christian churches. It is located in a renovated cave on the east side of town that already contained a natural escape hatch and a natural baptismal font. Different groups added and improved the facade and the courtyard. Early Christian converts – Peter, Paul, and Barnabas – all worked in the Antioch community.
Mosaic of Soteria, or Salvation
The Archeology Museum, also known as the Mosaic Museum, contains beautiful and mostly intact mosaics from Harbiye (Daphne) and Seleucia Pieria. More photos here.
Antakya Walls and Fortress
A drive to the ruins of the Antioch fortress at the top of Habib-i Neccar Mountain finished our sight-seeing. There is a little cafe where you can sit and look out at the city and surrounding hills.
The rest of our time in Antakya was spent wandering the streets and the bazaar. Behind the bazaar is a district of charming old houses. In there is a Catholic Church almost adjacent to a mosque. We bought some souvenirs from the Caritas shop, and then headed across the river to the city park. The park is a nice big park with a colonnade of cedar trees surrounded by eucalyptus groves, playgrounds, and tea gardens. The tea gardens are lively with backgammon, card, and okey players.
Here is the nitty-gritty of our stay here:
Lodging: The Antik Beyazit Hotel was clean and comfortable but a little shabby. The food was good, and the hotel is close to everything.
Food: We really liked the food in Antakya. I think you could eat anywhere, but here is where we ate. They all serve good regional food, and the prices are reasonable.
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