Mardin is a stunning ancient city in southeastern Turkey. It is situated in the northern reaches of ancient Mesopotamia and is close to the borders of Syria and Iraq. While it is virtually unheard of in the outside world, Mardin is very famous within Turkey for being one of Turkey's most historic and beautiful cities.
The old city is set on the side of a defensible hill overlooking the rich places of Mesopotamia. It is near the Tigris River and is under the protection of UNESCO - new construction is forbidden to preserve its stunning facade.
The Rich Heritage of Mardin
Mardin has a very rich and interesting history and has historically been very diverse with populations of Arabs, Kurds, Armenians, Assyrians, Nestorians, Jews, and Turks calling it home. Today it has a Kurdish majority with a large Arab presence.
Population: Today The Majority Is Kurdish with a Significant Minority of Arabs
Mardin is also a popular place for people to come and learn about the often forgotten history of the Assyrian Christians who still speak Aramaic. Aramaic is the ancient language that Jesus would likely have spoken.
Assyrians: It Remains A Stronghold For Assyrians
Not only is Mardin one of the undiscovered wonders of Turkey (with spectacular ancient stone hotels), is a great base to explore the many other ancient sites in the region. It is only a couple of hour's drive from the truly ancient site of Göbekli Tepe (a site so old that it makes the Pyramids look young).
Silkroad: It Was An Important Stop On the Silk Road
Crossroads: Mardin Long Sat On The Crossroads of Empires
Mardin has long been at the crossroads of empires. This region was a near-perpetual battleground of control between the Roman and Parthian empires and their successor empires and kingdoms. It has been fought over by the Assyrians, Arabs, Romans, Byzantines, Seljuk Turks, Parthians, Kurds, Mongols, Ottomans, and more.
Visiting Mardin Today
Mardin is often considered an open-air museum. That is due to its historical architecture with most of its buildings using beige-colored limestone rock that has been quarried from the area for centuries.
The city is ancient and set on uneven terrain. It is streets are narrow and winding and the main street is only one-way traffic. Many of the hotels are only accessible on foot and require climbing stairs. Many of its narrow streets are pedestrian-only (and whatever livestock the locals may have). It is not recommended for those with mobility issues.
Streets: Many of Its Streets Are Narrow and Pedestrian Only
Mardin is located in the southeastern part of Turkey. This region has seen a long-running insurgency by Kurdish forces for many years. This conflict came to a head in 2015 and there were battles fought all over the region - including in the old city of Mardin.
Safety: Check The Current Travel Advisories Before Going
Today the insurgency has died down and as of the time of writing seems mostly confined to remote mountains. Within Turkey, Mardin is considered a safe city in the region. One should always check to see the current security situation before going.
Some Main Attractions
Some of the main attractions are:
The Great Mosque: It is The Historic Main Congregational Mosque of The City Likely first Built In the 1170s
Sultan İsa (or Zinciriye) Medrese: Regarded as One of The Most Impressive Islamic Monuments From 1385. It Was Built As a Madrasa And Also Has a Mosque And Mausoleum
Meryem Ana (Virgin Mary) Church: A Syriac Catholic Church, built in 1895
Red (Surp Kevork) Church: An Armenian Apostolic Church
Deyrü'z-Zafaran Monastery: Found in 493 AD Is One of The Oldest Monasteries in The World, it is a Syriac Orthodox Saffron Monastery
The Necropolis and Roman Fortress Of Dara
Located just out of Mardin are some of the region's most interesting Roman ruins. Dara was an important East Roman fortress city that bordered the powerful Sassanid Empire. It featured prominently in the great Roman-Persian wars of 530, 540, 544, 573, and 604.
Dara: Important Eastern Roman Empire Fortress City
Today one will see the remains of great walls, bridges (still intact) over a diverted river, an eye-catching necropolis, massive cisterns to survive a siege, and on top of it all is the modern Turkish village of Oğuz.
Oğuz: The Modern Turkish Village Built On Top Of the Old Ruins Of Dara
One will find a necropolis here in Dara where people carved tombs into the rock to bury their dead. One will be amazed by how little the rest of the world is familiar with these forgotten attractions - much like the must-see "City of the Dead" in Russia.