Local Culture, cultural events and manifestations
Local Culture, cultural events and manifestations
Cultural events and manifestations in Hatay
Cultural Local Partners
Description and activities
Turkish National Culture
Description of Turkish culture and its influences
Expo 2021
The Hatay, situated in the south of Türkiye, is a city of peace, brotherhood and tolerance, which has hosted many civilizations with its rich cultural heritage. It is one of the oldest settlements in the world with its 8,500 year history. Every century and every civilization have left their mark here. It has unique tastes, cultures, uniquely seen for the first time in Anatolia and the world. EXPO 2021 event with the theme of “Garden of Civilisations” was to be held in spring in Hatay but the Municipality has decided to hold this international organisation between December 10, 2021 and May 30, 2022, due to the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Antakya EXPO Site and Iskenderun EXPO Site are to areas arranged to host many events, indoor concerts, fairs and congresses during the Expo.
City of Gastronomy
Hatay’s rooted cuisine offers a delightful range of dishes that blend ancient and modern techniques. Now, the city’s cuisine is again in the spotlight after being included in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) as a “city of gastronomy.” Hatay’s cuisine is a fine mixture of their signature Mediterranean vegetable recipes mixed with meat-heavy Arabic dishes. For those with a sweet tooth, künefe is considered Hatay’s crown jewel in desserts and was also famous in Ottoman-era kitchens. Turkish coffee is an indispensable drink bringing together the families or neighbours. There is a saying in Turkish that means a cup of coffee has forty years of memory and respect, which means; if you drink a cup of coffee with someone, you have a bound that is unforgettable. This also shows the hospitable part of the community.
City of Mosaics
In Hatay Museum, which is the first in the world in terms of mosaic collection, M.S.2-5. The mosaics belonging to the centuries are exhibited together with architectural spaces. The mosaics unearthed during construction of a hotel date back to the 2nd century BC, when Antiochia was first established.
