The Best Sight in Antakya (Antioch), The Turquoise Coast

Background Illustration for Sights

We've compiled the best of the best in Antakya (Antioch) - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.

Habib-i Neccar Cami

Popularly dated from the 7th century, this is called Turkey's oldest mosque. More likely, a church of John the Baptist originally stood here, replacing a temple, and this was converted to a mosque, then back to a church by the crusaders, then destroyed in 1268 by the Mamluk Sultan Baybars, who had the current building constructed. It has since been much restored. A side chamber contains two sarcophagi, labeled as the prophet Jonah and John the Baptist, while downstairs are the tombs of Habib-i Neccar, an otherwise unidentified early Christian martyr mentioned in the Koran, and Sham’un al-Safa (Simon the Loyal), perhaps the Apostle Simon Peter. All presumably survive from the Byzantine church and, with that pedigree, could even be genuine.

Antakya, 31060, Turkey

Something incorrect in this review?