Mardin
Set on the slopes of the mountains that form the northern Mesopotamian border, Mardin is one of the oldest cities in the region. Its history dates back to Subarian times. Ornamented with elegant, fairy-tale houses, Mardin is truly an open-air museum. Being a cradle of civilisations, Mardin is also an important city of Syriac Christianity, therefore a significant destination for religious tourism. Churches in Mardin conduct masses in Aramaic, the language spoken by Jesus himself. Major religious structures of Christendom include the Deyr-ül Zafaran Monastery (served as the official seat of the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate for 640 years until 1932), Meryemana Church, Mor Behnam Kırklar Church, Mor Yakup Monastery, Mor Evgin Monastery and Mor Mihael Church.
Mardin is famous for its carefully arranged houses and mystical atmosphere. Exposed to long and hot summer days, and harsh winter conditions, these stone houses are traditionally made in stacks like steps on a staircase, never blocking each other’s view. They usually face south across the Mardin Plain. Due to hot weather, even at night, local people sleep on platform beds set up on the terraces in the summer. Narrow streets of Mardin are connected via covered passages known as ‘abbara’ where you can feel the refreshing wind moving between and under the houses. Boasting ornamented stone houses, stonework is an important handicraft across the region. The most common figures include geometric patterns, plat motifs, tulips, bunches of grapes, and carnations. You can visit the Firdevs Mansion, the Hacı Kermo Residence, and the PTT Building to witness some of the finest examples of stonework in Mardin.
The Artukids had a major influence on Mardin, under whose rule the city was prospered and flourished. Artukid architecture represents the adaptation of earlier Turkish techniques and styles to the Anatolian culture. Make sure to visit the Grand Mosque (built in the 12th century, and having a ribbed dome above the mihrab), and Zinciriye Madrasah to fully comprehend and admire their work.
Handicrafts in Mardin
Dozens of civilizations have passed through Mardin over centuries and endowed it with a rich and unique cultural heritage. In line with its geography and natural resources, pottery, ironwork, copperwork, and silverwork (locally known as ‘telkari’) are famous traditions along with lace embroidery, kilim and carpet weaving, saddle making, and stonework.