The road to the Citadel of Antioch

 

I have been asked about how to get to citadel of Antioch. Here are two suggestions:

If you have a car, follow the road towards Reyhanlı until you are out of Antakya. There you have to turn right when you get to the road to Altınözü. Follow the road to the village of Kuruyer. There this is a road with the sign Antakya Kalesi [The citadel of Antioch]. Follow this road to the restaurant on top of Mount Silpius where you have a view over the city. Park your car, and return to the ruins of the walls of Antioch. Follow the walls walking north through the forest. When you are out of the wooded area, you see the citadel on the hilltop in front of you.

If you do not have a car, go to the minibus terminal [Köy Garajları] at get on a minibus to Altınözü. Ask the driver to take you to the road to the citadel at the sign Antakya Kalesi at Kuruyer. Walk up the hill until you get to the walls. It is a steep road. Be sure to take a small bottle of water along, and do not take the tour at noon. Early morning or late afternoon are better. Follow the walls walking north through the forest. When you are out of the wooded area, you see the citadel on the hilltop in front of you.

At your return to the vantage point, you can have a cold beer in the small restaurant.

(For further information, see my book Antioch on the Orontes – A History and a Guide (Lanham, Maryland: Hamilton Books, 2012))