Built on a hilltop, this Turkish city's black volcanic stone houses cascade down the slopes, alongside ancient mosques and the historic Deyrulzafaran Monastery.
Mardin rises along a limestone hill in southeastern Turkey, where stone buildings cascade down its southern slope. You'll walk through narrow streets past the intricate carvings of the 12th-century Grand Mosque, explore the ancient Deyrulzafaran Monastery with its underground sun temples, and stop at workshops where artisans still craft silver jewelry and carve limestone decorations. The city's architecture combines Islamic geometric patterns with Syriac Christian symbolism, while the views stretch across the vast Mesopotamian plains below.
Walking Mardin's Streets
The old city's main street runs east to west, branching into stepped alleyways so narrow that only pedestrians and donkeys can pass through. Look up to see carved limestone balconies and decorated doorways from the Artuqid period (12th-14th centuries). Most buildings include terraces and courtyards facing south, giving you unobstructed views of the plains stretching toward Syria.
Religious Architecture
The Grand Mosque dominates the old town center with its cylindrical minaret and ribbed dome. Inside, a courtyard opens to stone arcades with geometric carvings. At the Church of Forty Martyrs, built in 569 CE, you can attend services conducted in Aramaic and examine the carved stone altar. The church still functions as a center of worship for Mardin's Syriac Christian community.
Markets and Daily Life
Walk through the old bazaar's narrow lanes to find shops selling locally-made pistachio oil soap, regional spices, and handcrafted silver. You can watch metalworkers shape traditional objects and stonemasons carve decorative pieces. In the morning, local vendors set up stalls with fresh produce and regional dishes like kaburga dolması (stuffed lamb ribs) and harire (a sweet made from rice flour and nuts).
Museums and Cultural Sites
The Mardin Museum, housed in an 1895 Syriac Catholic Patriarchate building, contains Mesopotamian tools, Roman mosaics, and Ottoman household items. Visit the 15th-century Kasımiye Medrese to see precise Islamic geometric patterns and carved stone portals. The building's architecture demonstrates medieval Islamic mathematical principles through its proportions and decorative elements.
Beyond the City
Take a trip to Deyrulzafaran Monastery, 8 kilometers from the city. This active monastery contains ancient sun-worshiping temples in its foundations and the tombs of 52 patriarchs. The ruins of Dara lie 19 kilometers away, where you can explore rock-cut water cisterns and fortification walls from its time as an Eastern Roman frontier base.
Climate and Timing Your Visit
Plan your visit during spring (March-May) or autumn (September-November) when temperatures are mild enough for walking the steep streets. Summer temperatures often reach 40°C (104°F), while winter can bring snow. The city receives more than 3,000 hours of sunshine annually, making clear views of the Mesopotamian plains likely throughout the year.
