The place and importance of the religious building in the formation of city identity: The example of Antakya

Antakya, an Anatolian city is a multicultural one in which people of different cultures and faiths such as Jews, Christians, and Muslims live together. Naturally, every religion's beliefs have shaped the physical space as a religious building and been influential in the city skyline. In Antakya, churches, mosques, and synagogues are so intertwined with each other that they take place on the same street and this different religious building have determined the identity of the city. In the study, the relationship between the religious building and the city identity has been analyzed theoretically and the contribution of the religious building to the city identity in the selected exemplary city Antakya, has been tried to explain through observation, analysis, mapping, and photographing. While reading the city identity, the image of the city and the importance of the sign elements have been focused on. Religious buildings are powerful landmarks in city image. The detectability of religious building from the past to our day in Antakya which are the sign elements in the city image have been researched and an answer to this question has been asked for. Becouse of Antakya is religious and tolerance center, religious building's cognizable and protected from silhouette is important for reflecting city identity. In this study consist of new data is expected to be in the design for Antakya.