What to do in Mardin, Turkey

There are wonderful cities in every corner of Turkey, but the east of the country is different. Witnessing with our eyes what we read in books, witnessing the tolerance, unity and indeed harmony of ancient times in Eastern cities are just a few of the reasons that make these trips unforgettable.

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To understand the unity of Turks with Kurds, Arabs, Assyrians who have made a great contribution to Mardin's current cultural heritage, and many other societies, it is enough to tour its streets.

This is what makes Mardin Mardin; this unique tolerance and community unity that you can see in very few places in the world. Totally original, mystical and human.

Where is Mardin?

Located in the Southeastern Anatolia region, Mardin is located on the Mesopotamian plain between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. It borders Batman and Diyarbakır in the north, Syria in the south, Şanlıurfa in the west, and Siirt and Şırnak in the east.

When to go to Mardin?

In our opinion, the most ideal times for Mardin are definitely spring and autumn. Since Mardin is a southern city, the weather is very, very hot in summer; In winter, when the weather gets colder, fog can come down. In the city where snow is rarely seen and the winter season is usually rainy, the most ideal choice would be for the spring months to enjoy the streets of Old Mardin.

From the second half of September until the end of October, you can find the chance to travel in a little cooler weather. Let's not go without mentioning that the winter months are a bit inefficient in terms of timing as the weather gets dark early, and the summer months are the most crowded period of the city.

Dara Mesopotamian Ruins

The ancient city of Dara, 32 km from Mardin, is actually one of the most important settlements of Anatolia and Mesopotamia, even though it is overshadowed by monasteries during trips to this region. In the past, this settlement, which was created by carving the rocks to protect the borders of the Eastern Roman Empire from the Sassanids, hides a history of 7500 years.

The ancient city was unearthed and opened to visitors 32 years ago, so we can't say it's very old. As in many cities of Anatolia, the excavations of Dara were delayed a bit, and it took a long time to gain tourism. In fact, the archaeological work progresses so slowly that the part that can be visited today is a very, very small part of the total assets. It is a matter of curiosity about what will be found and exhibited in the future…

Deyrulzafaran Monastery

Deyrulzafaran Monastery, whose construction started in the 5th century, and which has become its current size by making various additions in different years, was planned on the area that was first used as the Temple of the Sun and as a castle during the Romans period. The building, which was converted into a monastery by St. Şleymun after the Romans, took the name Mor Şleymun Monastery at that time and was called by different names, taking the name of the metropolitans who made it possible to develop by making additions over time. Finally, the monastery, which was named Deyrulzafaran because of the saffron plants growing around it, is still known as such.

Midyat

Midyat is another must for Mardin trips. One of the places to visit in Midyat is the Midyat State Guest House, which we know as Sıla Mansion. Since it is one of the main attraction centers of the TV series shot in Mardin, it is a structure that is always curious. A big three-storey mansion, the crowd is still but never ending. Maybe it would be a more sensible idea to come and see it in the morning.

Mor Gabriel Monastery

The foundations of Mor Gabriel Monastery, located 1 hour and 25 minutes from Old Mardin and 25 minutes from Midyat, were laid in 397. Mor Gabriel Monastery, which was once the metropolitan center, is one of the most important structures of the Syriac Ancient Community.

Today, 65 Assyrians live in the monastery, which has a much older history than the examples in Palestine and Egypt. We really wonder what it would be like to live in such a beautiful architecture among the oak trees.

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