St Pierre Church (St. Pierre Anıt Müzesi) sits on the western slope of Mount Stauris / Habib-i Neccar Dağı on the Antakya–Reyhanlı approach. Tradition presents it as an early cave church linked to apostolic preaching; Acts 11:26 records that disciples were first called Christians in Antioch the city—not automatically “inside this cave.” Prefer “among the earliest Christian gathering places / cave churches” over absolute “first church on Earth.” UNESCO Tentative List 5613 (2011, criteria iii, vi). Pope Paul VI recognised it as a pilgrimage place (1963). Confirm 2026 ticket-desk status before promising entry.

• Charonion (Haron / Charon relief): About a 10-minute uphill path east of St Pierre—in Antakya, not İskenderun or Kırıkhan despite mixed collage filenames. Colossal unfinished bust tradition links it to Antiochus IV Epiphanes and a plague-apotropaic commission (mid-2nd century BCE tradition).
• Habib-i Neccar Camii: Often called among the earliest mosques in Anatolia—keep the claim qualified. Temple-under narratives are tradition, not proven tourist dogma. After heavy quake damage, restoration returned the mosque to worship on 27 December 2025.
• Museums separated: Visit Necmi Asfuroğlu Archaeology Museum for in-situ Roman mosaics (including a very large single floor mosaic often marketed as among the world’s largest single pieces—qualify ranking language). Do not confuse it with the closed Hatay Archaeology Museum mosaic palace or with overnighting at The Museum Hotel.
• Uzun Çarşı & old fabric: Historic bazaar, Assembly building and multi-faith houses of worship suffered severe damage. Walk only where reconstruction allows; do not invent a fully restored Old Antakya postcard.

The Vespasianus–Titus Tunnel complex is in Samandağ (Çevlik), built to divert mountain floods away from the harbour of Seleucia Pieria—not an Antakya city attraction. UNESCO Tentative List 5903 (2014, criteria i, iv).

• Length language: Enclosed rock-cut tunnel sections are on the order of ~120–130 m. Local tourism texts often cite a ~1,380 m corridor including open channels; the UNESCO dossier discusses a diversion system on the order of ~875 m. Do not collapse “tunnel” and “entire diversion system” into one slogan.
• Chronology: Work is associated with Vespasian and Titus; some sources also mention Antoninus Pius—avoid a single mythical completion year.
• Beşikli: A rock-cut tomb complex (chambered tombs with architectural detailing)—not a “natural cave adventure.”
• Vakıflı: Türkiye’s last Armenian village on Musa Dağı approaches—visit respectfully; verify church/garden access. Hıdırbey plane-tree stories stay labelled as legend.
• St Simeon Monastery (Aknehir, Samandağ): historically visitor-relevant; DOSİM marks closed in 2026 fee lists—recheck.

Bakras Castle overlooks the Belen pass on the Antakya–İskenderun corridor. Multi-period fortress history includes Crusader and later phases—avoid “Crusader-only” shorthand. Taste Belen Tava as a GI dish (TÜRKPATENT 1645), not a medical tonic.

• Payas: Expand beyond a single tower photo—visit Payas Castle, the Sokullu Mehmed Paşa Complex (mosque, medrese, hammam, caravanserai, arasta; Mimar Sinan attribution in standard references) and Cin Kulesi (harbour watchtower, late 1570s).
• Issos / Erzin: Gözeneler ruins (often linked to Epiphaneia) show aqueduct and urban traces. Classical Issos harbour town is frequently identified with Kinet Höyük near Dörtyol; Alexander’s 333 BCE battlefield along the Pinaros remains debated (Deli Çay vs Payas and related channels). Visit ruins; do not pin the exact clash grid as proven tourism fact.
• İskenderun: Port-city kordon and logistics hub—not the Charonion hillside.

Hatay joined UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network as a City of Gastronomy in 2017. That is not a World Heritage inscription. Build meals around künefe, tepsi and kağıt kebabs, kaytaz, sürk, humus, zahter salad and biberli ekmek—then verify which kitchens are open on your date.

• Antakya Künefesi — TÜRKPATENT 101; also EU geographical indication.
• Antakya Sürkü (Çökeleği) — 330.
• Belen Tava — 1645.
• Hatay Kaytaz Böreği — Turkish GI + EU IGP (2025).
• Hatay Tepsi Kebabı — 1804 (late-2025 registration reporting).

Known addresses often cited by travellers (not rankings): Luwi Antakya; Avlu in Harbiye; Humusçu Nedim; Sultan Sofrası for künefe; Sveyka on the İskenderun shore. Confirm reopening and hours—no star scores, no health claims.