Mardin City Guide

Mardin City Guide

With a history tracing back to 4500 B.C., Mardin is located at the upward part of Mesopotamia and is one of the cities of the Southeast Anatolian Region. Having a long border with the northern Syria, the city has a mixed population of different ethnic groups.

Tourist Attractions

Mardin as one of the oldest settlements on the historical Silk Road stands in the forefront with its archaeology, ethnography, history and sights. Old Mardin houses have a historical, archaeological and cultural importance. You should watch over these alluring structures.

Daran Historical City at the Oguz Village is the most important tourist location of the city. Consisting of structures made up from the carved rocks, the city has rock sepulchers extending as far as Kurucay Stream. Surrounded by 4 km long ramparts, Dara harbors ruins of churches, palaces, markets, prisons, arsenal and dam. Girnavaz Tumulus located at 4 km south of Nusaybin district is a 24 m high settlement having 300 m caliber.

Mardin Museum exhibits ceramics, affixes, figurines, coins, apparatuses, vases pertaining to Bronze Age, Iron Age, Assyrian, Artuqid, Byzantine, Seljuk, and Ottoman eras.

There are lots of monasteries, churches, mosques, castles, madrasahs and caves in the city. Ulu Mosque is the oldest mosque in the city. Artuqids constructed the religious structure. Deyrulzeferan Monastery and Virgin Mary Church are just two examples of many historical structures of the city that you should absolutely visit. Mardin and Anzavur Castles are the two main castles of the city. Fatih Castle, Rabbat Castle and Mardin-Merdis Castle are the other ones. There are many caves within the borders of the city.

Midyat district is famous for its architectural houses. Deyrulumur Monastery placed at here was constructed in 397 A.D.

Culture & Entertainment

Mardin is culturally and historically a significant and rich settlement. Mardin cultural landscape is cited in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List. Handicrafts are the main reflection of the rich culture in the city. Telkari (a kind of decorative arts via using golden and metal), flagon working, pottery, copper working, needle lace, silver working, making kilims and carpets, handloom, making packsaddles, wood and stone carving and a lot more are the main craft examples from the city.

The fabric of the entertainment life of the city is shaped by natural activities. Camping, caravan tourism, wild life, mountain and nature trooping are the leading activities.

Beyazsu and Karasu Streams, Gurs Cascades, Zinnar Gardens, Savur Fruit Gardens and Yesilli (Greeny) Valley are eligible for camping. Zinnur Vineyards and Beyazsu are proper places for nature and mountain tours.

In addition to the architectural facet of the city, Mardin stands in the forefront with the seductions of its nature. Wild life is well developed in the city. Foxes, cormorants, rabbits, partridges are the main kinds of animals living in the city.

Food & Drink

The condition of being a settlement area for a great deal of civilizations is also reflected in the culinary culture of the city. Especially, spices peculiar to the city bring in different tastes and apparitions to the city delicacies. Kaburga dolmasi and sembusak are delicious palates of the city cuisine. After these meals, you should drink mirra, a kind of coffee special to the city.

Main authentic foods; Cig kofte, kelle paca, bread with meat, iskembe dolma, icli kofte, kaburga dolma, sembusak, a great range of kebabs, kibbe, keskek, zerde, kinds of helva and sweets of walnut...

Also, the wine of the city is famous. You will find many vineyards in the city.

Shopping

There are lots of bazaars in the city where you will be able to find general goods, authentic souvenirs and bric-a-bracs. Dry Goods Stores, Shoemakers, Covered, Hasan Ayar, Meskin, Butchers, Silversmiths, Jewelers, Coppersmiths Bazaars and more are existed in the city.

Kayseriye Bazaar located at the north of Ulu Mosque is remained from 16th century. You will find kinds of local goods here. Revakli Bazaar is placed at the east of Ulu Mosque. Within the structure, shops are lined up along the two sides of the passage.