Adiyaman City Guide

Adiyaman City Guide

Acquiring a history tracing back to 40.000 B.C. according to the researches committed in the Palanli Cave, Adiyaman is located at the end of the west of the Southeast Anatolian Region within the Middle Euphrates Division. The city rises at the north end of the land encompassing the Arabian Deserts as a moon at the north. This moon like part is named as 'Fertile Lands'. At this land on the intersection of the main trade roads, many huge commercial and industrial cities was constructed and collapsed. Adiyaman was favored as a settlement area throughout the history in conformity with its geographical offset.

Tourist Attractions

Adiyaman holds on multitudinous historical, natural and cultural premiums. Placed between Euphrates and Tigris, the city has been one of the significant principle places during the history. Archaeological protected areas, tumulus, archaic cities, caves, castles, bridges, thermal springs, lakes, rivers, religious structures, Adiyaman Museum and Nemrut appreciated as the 8th world brilliant are all the reflection of the Adiyaman's cultural, historical and natural prosperity.

Nemrut Mountain is a fabulous place getting the east and the west together. At the 2150 m, the existence of enthralling statues with a height of 10 m, the availability of epigraphs of meters long, the artifacts of Commagene Civilization near it and the presence of many archaeological and archaic ruins composes the history treasury of this historic land cited in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List. Also, many domestic and foreign tourists come to Nemrut Mountain to watch one of the best magnificent sunrise and sunset views. You should try to breath at the peak of the mountain and among the historical structures existed here.

Commagene Kingdom is located at hillsides of Toros Mountains. This archaic city attests the historical prosperity of the city.

Arsameia Archaic City is at the Kocahisar Village placed 60 km away from the city. It was the administration center of Commagene Kingdom built in 2nd century B.C. You will find the biggest Ancient Greek Tablet existed in Anatolia and many archaeological structures within the city. You should not miss them.


Gerger Castle located at the 85 km away from the Kahta district belongs to the Hitit term. This historic building houses castles, mosques and water cisterns.

Adiyaman Museum harbors a collection of works of prehistoric eras, Roman and Islam terms.

Culture & Entertainment

Being a settlement area for a great deal of civilizations, the city experienced many cultures during the history. Folk dances and authentic handicrafts compose the structural frame of the city culture. Especially, city is famous for its local folk dances.

Carpet, kilim, awning embroidery, needlework, oya, basketry, packsaddles work are the main examples from the handicraft business of the city. Pisinik carpets and carpet pillows are pretty popular with their motives and specific colors.

The City Public Library includes nearly 25.000 books. Also, there are libraries in villages and burgess.

International Nemrut Commagene Festival (June), Besni Education Feast (September) and Golbasi Kuru Peygamber (Prophet) Grape Festival (September) are the organizations held in the city within the year.

The tours to the nature, especially to Nemrut for sunrise and sunset, are popular in the city. Turkish Water Sports Feast is held in Ataturk Dam every year.

Food & Drink

The city cuisine is considerably rich and has its own peculiar taste. Meat, wheat, and vegetables are the main supplies. Special sauces, onion, garlic, red pepper flakes, mint and other mulls are the fundamental features of the city's culinary culture.


Soups: Meyir, alaca, malhita, dovme, tarhana, flour, yogurt, pitpiti soups...

Vegetables: Adiyaman tava, parmak kebab, dolma/sarma (stuffed vegetables), bean, dovmec...

Pilafs: Karistirmali pilaf, tomato pilaf, chicken pilaf, kavurmali pilaf (roasted meat and rice), meyhane pilaf...

Pitta: Bazlama, taplama, katmer, bread with cheese, tava killoru, yarpiz manca...

Kofte (meatball): Roasted hot kofte, kel kofte, yarpizli kofte, and eksili kofte...

Sweets: Tene helva, top helva, silik, asure, kesme, kasik sweet, burma, heside, nise bulamaci...

The center of the city, the coast of the Dam Lake at Kahta district, the ways going Nemrut Mountain are teemed up with restaurants and eateries offering examples from the local cuisine. These places are simple, clear and quality to eat delicacies from the city cuisine.

Shopping

The Historic Bazaar at the center of the city, Oturakci Bazaar selling popular authentic kilims and different kinds of handicrafts, the shopping places near Nemrut are the main shopping locations. You can buy tourist goods and Nemrut statues from these places. Also, Sire Bazaar at Besni district is the best place to buy the famous Besni grape, pestil (thin sheet of sun-dried fruit pulp) and amulets.