Antakya is the seat of the Hatay Province in southern Turkey. Antakya is located on the banks of the Orontes River, approximately 14 mi inland from the Mediterranean coast. The city is in a valley surrounded by mountains Its location near the Syrian border makes Antakya more cosmopolitan than many cities in Turkey. With extensive transportation links to Syrian city of Aleppo, Antakya is the jumping off point of most overland travellers into the Middle East. City is famous for silk production which is woven in the traditional way. In the ancient bazaar area easy to find the regional spices, leather shoes and hand-made wooden objects.