The province of Malatya is located at the upper Firat river basin area of the Eastern Anatolian Region. The area had been inhabited since the Neolithic ages, mainly because of its geographic position at the crossroads of major trade routes; the famous Route of Kings and the Silk Road. 
It is a busy modern city in a huge fertile region with a major agricultural industry thanks to its rich water supply, and is Turkey’s biggest apricot producer. It is a popular base from which to visit Nemrut Dagi, which is a day trip. Another interesting day trip is to Eski Malatya (Old Malatya), 12km north of the modern city, which is a ruined Roman town with remains of some old city walls, mosques and caravanserais. A continental semi-arid climate with hot and dry summers and cold and snowy winters.
Malatya Archeological Museum: The museum, less than 1km south of the city centre, has findings from excavations in Fethiye, Gelinciktepe, Pirot, Caferhöyük, Imamoglu and Aslantepe. Exhibits include ceramic statuettes, eye-drop and scent bottles from Asurian trade colonies, tile plates of Byzantine period and relics from the Old Bronze age.

Aslantepe Hill: This is one of the most excavated ancient sites

Central Anatolia: The hill is in the Orduzu quarter of Malatya, 6 km east of the city centre. The scientific excavations initiated in 1932 still continue today, and have so far unearthed seven different layers dating back from the Calcolithic Age to the Romans, with the major settlement layer formed in the late Hittite period. 

Castles Old Malatya Castle is located in the Old Malatya and covers a wide area. The construction of the castle had been initiated during the reign of the Roman Empire 1st Titus. The castle had attained its final form in the period of Byzantine Emperor Justinianus (522 - 565).

Doğanşehir Castle is located inside the borders of the Doganşehir district and has a pentagonal structure. The castle was constructed in the period of Romans.

Ulu Mosque (Arapkir): The structure is estimated to have belonged to İlhanlı Government who ruled over Akapir in 1334.

Caravanserais. Bedesten: Part of the old market, this is a rectangular structure in the Old Darende district.