Mardin is a mysterious city: It is on the rail and highway route which connects Turkey to Syria and Iraq and it has a historic view that brings the past to the future with its architecture, culture and atmosphere.

It is a rocky region situated on a hill which looks down to the Mesopotamian plains. The city directly overlooks the sweltering Syrian plain 95 kilometers south of Diyarbakır.

Mardin's residents have lived under the rule of Hurri-Mitani, Hittites, Surs, Babylonians, Persians, Romans, Arabs and the Seljuk Turks. During this time the city was given many names, all having similar sounds. Persians called it “Marde,” Byzantines called it “Mardia,” Arabs called it “Maridin and Syriacs called the city “Merde, Merdo, Merdi.”

It has a territory of 12,760 square kilometers. There are nearly 650,000 local people and the city has nine administrative districts, namely Dargeçit, Derik, Kızıltepe, Mazidağı, Midyat, Nusaybin, Ömerli, Savur and Yeşilli. It provides employment with 190 workers for nearly 1,500 people with its small enterprises besides its industrial zone. The city also has a Free Trade Zone.

The most important historical sites are Kasımiye Madrasah, Zinciriye Madrasah, Dayrul-Zeferan Monastery and Harizm Madrasah and the Grand Mosque.

The other Madrasahs are Sultan Isa Madrasah and Kasım Paşa Madrasah. They both have special architecture. Another spot in the city which is visited by tourists is Ulu Mosque. 

At Hasankeyf, which is on the border with Batman, it is possible to see the ruins of the ancient 12th century. The bridge, which once connected the two parts of the city over the Dicle (Tigris) river and the palace, are other must-see parts of this historical city. Hasankeyf will be completely flooded when they will finish the nearby dam, a part of the GAP Project (Southeast Anatolia Project). It is slowly being submerged.

One of the biggest monasteries in the region is Deyr'ul Zafaran. A secret section for worshipping, Mahzen is the oldest part of the structure. The area looks interesting because the Church of the Virgin Mary and Mar Yakup Monastery stand as if they are forming a trinity.

The city museum, built in 1895, displays many ancient pieces such as seals, cylinder seals, coins, lamps, figurines, teardrop bottles, and jewelry. The pieces represent the Assyrian, Urartian, Hellenistic, Persian, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk, Artuklu and the Ottoman periods.

 The city as a whole with its traditional stone, religious and vernacular architecture and its terraced urban pattern is the best-preserved example of Anatolian soil.Mardin houses are well preserved with an old-style carving. The city is located in a volcanic area and the houses reflect the culture and the lifestyle of the city. The houses are surrounded by high walls and isolated from the streets, built just right for the climate. Most of the houses have no kitchen. The stone houses are dressed with arches and motifs.

The central settlement was given the status of urban site area in 1979. There are carved pictures above the house doors. The pictures are from the Kaaba. They hang the photos if the owner of the house has made the pilgrimage to Mecca. Often the lanes run through arched tunnels beneath the upper floors of houses. Relief carvings of animals and fruit lend the city a dream-like character, and the modern world seems to fade away. But people still follow the old habits. It is what nature brings.

Shuttles run frequently from Diyarbakır to Mardin throughout the day and there are flights from Istanbul via Ankara to Mardin and Diyarbakır.

Distances & Travel Times

Adıyaman: 80 km (174 miles) W, 4.5 hours

Ankara: 1,005 km (625 miles) NW, 15 hours

Diyarbakır: 95 km (59 miles) N, 1.5 hours

Istanbul: 1,459 km (907 miles) NW, 22 hours

Şanlıurfa 172 km (107 miles) W, 2.25 hours

Mardin Tour (Oct. 19-21)

The tour program is made up of Mardin, Cercis Murat Mansion, Ulu Mosque, Zinciriye Madrasah, Hatuniye Madrasah, Mardin Museum, Kırklar Church, Mardin Castle, Erdoba Houses, Artuklu Caravansarai, Şehidiye Mosque, Mimarbaşı Lole House, Kırmızı Church, Munganların House and Mardin bazaars.

Price: YTL 745 - 545 (VAT excluded)

Fotoğrafevi Tourism Travel Agency

Tel: 0212 249 0202

Nemrut – Atatürk Dam – Şanlıurfa – Harran (Oct. 20-21)

The tour program includes Karakuş Tumulus, Cendere Bridge, Arsemia, Mount Nemrut, Kahta, Atatürk Dam, Harran, Şanlıurfa.

Price: YTL 235

Arnika Tourism 0212 245 15 93

WHERE TO STAY

Erdoba Mansions

The Erdoba Houses are made up of two different architectural structures. The first one is situated on the main street. The second building is 150 meters away from the main street. You can reach there by walking the narrow streets of Mardin.

Tel: 0482 212 7677

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