Antioch Gate

The Antioch Gate represents a series of fortifications that have their roots in the Byzantine era, but it took its current form in 1209 during the reign of Al-Zahir Ghazi, with his name inscribed on a polished foundation stone that adorns the facade. Its design features a pointed arch within a rectangular arch, creating a disorienting effect for attackers, while square towers with chamfered corners allow for the launching of incendiary projectiles.

Throughout the Ottoman period, the gate served as a customs checkpoint for goods arriving from Antioch and Mersin; silk and cotton fabrics were weighed and sealed with lead here. During the battles of 2012, the Ottoman iron gate was removed for protection and relocated to a temporary preservation museum, while part of the northern wall was damaged and subsequently restored in 2019 by filling the gaps with mortar reinforced with basalt fibers.

Today, the gate is illuminated at night with warm LED lights, and a QR code connects visitors to a three-dimensional virtual tour that explains the city’s defense system through its seven gate