The road from Iskenderun leads through the Belen Pass to Antakya , the Biblical Antioch, where St Peter founded the first Christian community. The grotto where he preached can be seen just outside the town. This rugged, mountainous region of Turkey has a wild beauty, but lacks the historical and climatic attractions of the rest of the country. Despite the variable weather, there are several coastal resorts with good, sandy beaches. These include, from west to east, Kilyos, Sile, Akcakoca, Sinop Unye, Ordu and Giresun.
Accommodation is, however, often very basic.
A good and scenic coastal road connects Samsun and Trabzon , the two regional centres. The ruins of a Byzantine fortress can still be seen in Trabzon, together with many fine buildings including the Church of St Sophia, which was built during the Comnene's 200-year rule. Kemal Atat rk supervised the construction of Ankara, a capital to replace Istanbul, in this hitherto underpopulated region during the 1920s and 1930s. Atat rk's mausoleum dominates the new city. Ankara was, however, built on the site of more ancient settlements and it is fitting that the Museum of Anatolian Civilisations , built under the ramparts of the Citadel, should house a magnificent collection of Neolithic and Hittite artefacts.