The moment I step across the borders of Dörtyol, a wave of memory awakens—carried by the crisp scent of citrus in the air… The flora stretches from oleander to palm, from date to olive and laurel, then gently whispers the abundance of this land and life through the needle-leaved pines. Beneath the crimson-hued soil lie layered histories, each corner offering a story of its own. Under the same sky where church bells, hymns, and the call to prayer echo together, this land reveals what it truly means to belong in harmony. Its generous spirit is felt through its people, its food, and its deeply rooted culture.

My journey often ends by tracing the coastline from Antakya to Samandağ, reaching Arsuz—a path nestled between the boundless Mediterranean and the Amanos mountains. It’s a route that fills me with a quiet thrill, a reminder of the joy of simply living.

These roots, nourished by such a singular culture, along with the boundless passion I carry within—they are the essence that gave birth to Neolonca.

Nil Banu Yentür

Founder & Creative Director