Malatya is a town in the Eastern Anatolia region of Turkey, on the plain of the Euphrates River. Today it is best known for its apricots. Visitors staying in budget hotels in Malatya in July can enjoy the annual Apricot Festival, the town’s most popular cultural event. Tourists may be surprised to discover how many delicious confections and desserts can be made from real Turkish apricots.

Malatya is a very old community, dating back to the ancient Hittites. It was fought over by many armies, including an allied Christian and Muslim army that tried, unsuccessfully, to defend it from invading Mongols. Little in the way of architecture is left from ancient times, aside from the remains of a citadel. However, the Archaeological Museum has some fine exhibits. There are over 15,000 artifacts from Classical ancient periods, as well as some prehistoric fossils. Aslantepe, a few miles outside Malatya, was once the capital of the Hittite Empire. Some old Hittite traditions are still alive here. Battalgazi, just nine miles (14.5 km) from Malatya, was an important Byzantine city. Here you can see the Ulu Mosque, built by the Seljuk Turks in the 13th century. Be sure to go to the Malatya Bazaar, where you can buy beautiful copper accessories. For information on cheap hotels in Malatya, see our listings at EasyToBook.com.