Samandağ, district in Hatay Province, Turkey
Samandağ is a coastal town in Hatay Province in southern Turkey, positioned along the Mediterranean Sea with steep mountains rising to the east. The town features narrow streets lined with stone buildings, a working harbor filled with fishing boats, and broad beaches covered with pebbles and sand.
The settlement was established around 300 BCE as the port city of Seleucia Pieria and served as a major trading port during Greek and Roman times. In the 2nd century CE, Romans under Vespasian and Titus built a canal to improve the harbor, but a 6th-century earthquake diminished its importance and the port eventually silted up.
The town's name comes from Mount Saman Dağı, where Saint Simeon Stylites the Younger lived, and was officially adopted in 1948. The local community remains deeply connected to its roots, with traditions visible in markets, neighborhood cafes, and shared meals where people gather to chat with neighbors.
The town is easily accessible from nearby Antakya and has simple local markets and small fish restaurants serving fresh seafood. Narrow streets and flat terrain make walking or using motorbikes practical ways to explore, and most places of interest are close together.
The area is known for endangered sea turtles called Caretta caretta nesting on the beaches, particularly visible at night. This makes Samandağ a special place for nature watchers who want to witness the rare sight of these ancient marine creatures laying eggs.
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