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Dick Osseman | all galleries >> Galleries >> Antakya Turkey > Antakya 7808.jpg
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20-MAR-2004

Antakya 7808.jpg

I always thought this was a former cinema, but when I saw a painting of it in a restaurant I asked the waiters. They told me it was the former house of parliament during the brief period the city was capital of a republic (1939). At that time the building was sitting all by itself (if the painting was correct) in the fields, a strange sight. All of the city at that time probably was situated the other side of the river.

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Guest 11-Jul-2006 14:04
This building is the parlimnet building of Hatay Republic (1938- 1939). More info can be found:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Hatay
Salah Tatli 26-Feb-2006 22:54
Hello There:

As far as I know, this building was originally built by French in 1920s as a nice-luxurious restaurant over-viewing Asi River. But it later hosted the Parliament of Hatay Republic in 1938-1939, right before annexation of Antakya to Turkey. Afterwards, it became a cinema theater for long time (owned by Adali family). I was born and raised up in Antakya city and I watched hundreds movies in this building.

Your album is really fantastic. I would like to congratulate you and to thank you very much for those pictures.

Salah (www.antakyadan.org)
Dick Osseman02-Oct-2005 17:16
Thank you, Flings, for your comment, giving the building more of a history than Ý thought there was to it (and named owners).

Dick
Flings 02-Oct-2005 11:45
Hi Dick... It's true that was a cinema last time i was in Antakya 1988.The cinema and the house behind it are owned by the Adali family . A small garden separate them whith a swimming pool.I stayed as a guest 1976 in that house .Sabaheddine Adali was a senator in Ankara in 1976 .The post office is on the other side of the the boulvard (Caddessi).I was very surprise to see a Holiday inn half a block away in 1988.Iskandarun province was originally Syrian territory but the French annexed to Turkey but i can't remember anybody mentionning that house was the house of parliament,but this migh be possible because the location is very specific beside the Assi river on the right with the bridge and the circle behind where the photo was taken, left ; the post office and the way to Iskandarun and ofcourse the maine highway to the capital Ankara. Best regard...