Gaziantep-Aleppo
Project of Introducing
Culture and Tourism Values
Continuous presentation and cooperation projects for improving cooperation between sister and neighbour cities, increasing the economic and tourism value of the area have been developed and put into effect by Gaziantep Municipiality. Among one of these project “Gaziantep Aleppo Culture Tourism Richness Introduction Project”, financed by State Planning Organization Undersecretariat, of Turkish Republic Premiership is carrying out within Turkey-Syria Cooperation Program.
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Making contribution to the presentation of the culture and tourism values of important cities like Gaziantep and Aleppo that carries important historical heritage that traces back to especially Ottomans and many other civilizations.
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Enhancing the multidimensional relations between Gaziantep and Aleppo whose people have many relatives on both sides and shares lots of common historical and cultural values.
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Carrying the regional fellowship and peace that existed between the people of Gaziantep and Aleppo to the future.
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Bringing out the cultural, historical and touristy values, increasing the attention to the area by presenting the common values therefore contributing to the tourism.
Aiming to present cultural and tourism values of two sister cities that lived in neighbour lands for centuries in a harmony the "Gaziantep - Aleppo Project of Introducing Cultural and Tourism Values" will not only accelerate the current potential but also become a link in the improvement of the political, economic, tourism and cultural relations between Syria and Turkey.
Culture and Tourism Road from Gaziantep to Aleppo
From the City of Mosaics
To the Queen of the East
The pearl of the East, Gaziantep with her mysterious history in which different civilizations, different races, different cultures and religions come together and synthesized within each other is the biggest city of the East and the sixth biggest city of Turkey.
With her handicrafts, rich cookery, pistachio nut, baklava and Zeugma ancient city which is worldwide known and also with her historical ruins, natural beauties and cultural values Gaziantep is especially an important city of not only Turkey but also the Middle-East region.
Having a history of 5600 years Gaziantep carries all commercial, cultural and artistic popularity from past to contemporary era and also makes a distinguished name for herself with her castle, khans, hammams, mausoleums, barrows, kastels which are important examples of water architecture, mosques like Omeriye, Boyaci, Ali Nacar and Kurtulus, shrines, natural parks together with great industrious facilities.
Having been elected as "Asimetu's Sekafeti'l Islamiyye" which means "The Capital of Islamic Culture" in 2006 with Isfahan by Organization of the Islamic Conference Aleppo is the second biggest city of our south border neighbour Syria after Damascus and from many aspects shows that she is the sister city of Gaziantep in Syria.
With her castle, mosques like Umayyad Mosque (the Great Mosque), Husrevpascha and Shuaybiyye mosques, Bazaar and its mystical atmosphere, stone buildings that are called "kaşane", with her architectural texture fit into the historical pattern the city of Aleppo is one of the most important symbols of the Islamic Lands bearing the title of classical example of Ottoman city building. In the Ottoman days the city was the third important city after Istanbul and Cairo, today Aleppo continues to be the centre of attention by preserving the cultural identity.
Aleppo which was called as "The Queen of the East" in the past is a city which is neither distant nor foreign to people of Gaziantep. As a matter of fact Gaziantep was a district of Aleppo before taking the "Gazi" title back in the days of Ottoman Empire. After the Ottoman era with the establishment of new countries Gaziantep remained in this side of the border where Aleppo remained on the other side.
As one of the oldest settlement and trade centres of the past Aleppo has many common features with today's industry centre of Middle-East, Gaziantep.
Likewise Aleppo, Gaziantep hosts one of the oldest settlements of the world, the ancient city of Doliche which is dated back to 600.000 BC.
The two cities which are located in neighbour countries today was never separated and kept their harmony with their historical places, traditions and cultural textures. Whether you enter from the gates of Aleppo or Gaziantep you'll be welcomed with the warmest feelings and kindest words of your fellows like "welcome to the most beloved place of our hearts".
Our food are common... Deserts taste identical... / Faces are common... Hospitality is identical... / Traditions and customs are same...
Now its not only a spiritual connection that binds the two cities... "The City of Mosaic"; Gaziantep and "The Queen of the East"; Aleppo both of which are working for trade and tourism mutually are only 2 hour (app. 110 km) away from each other.
With the "Sister City Agreement" signed between the two cities that are close to each other both spiritually and physically and even that complete each other in the sense on cultural texture Aleppo and Gaziantep once again proved that they are the inseparable part of these lands.
Aleppo which is a classical example of Ottoman understanding of city building is the place where the legend of Kerem and Asli began, where Troubadour Emrah searched for his love. Historian Naima, Composer Sadi Hosses were both born in Aleppo. Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi was prayed to God in Aleppo madrasas. Kasgarli Mahmud presented his masterpiece Divan-i Lugat-it Turk (the first Turkish Encyclopaedia) to the Aleppo public. Naci Otri one of the former presidents of Syria was born in Aleppo and grandson of Itri.
Like it's seen in the verses of Troubadour Omer, Aleppo is an important city for Turkish literature that many songs had written, many tales had told on the name of her:
"Thus I came and pass / Be happy Aleppo City / You've fed me generously / Bless with you Aleppo City"
As Apostle Omer said once that Gaziantep is surrounded with spiritual walls the city has the same importance with Aleppo in terms of Religion Tourism and also hosted five people amongst the "sahabe" (the people who lived in the era of Prophet Mohammed and actually saw him) and also Prophet Yusa (nephew of Prophet Moses).
The fact is that along with being two centres of tourism that preserve historical and cultural values with memories from Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman civilizations both Gaziantep and Aleppo continues to be the two of the most important cities of these lands.
We invite you for a journey through history and traces of cultures in order to see the traditions, life culture, history and cultural values of two community and two cities that lived on the same lands with many common values that will be carried to the future.
