Mardin Old Town
The entire golden-stone historic centre, stacked up the hillside with the citadel at the top. Narrow stone lanes, arched passages, madrasahs and churches. Wear good shoes, everything is steep and cobbled.
Places to Visit in Mardin · Eight Anchors
Where you actually go in Mardin.
Eight places worth your time. Tap a photograph, the map will follow.
Deyrulzafaran Monastery
The Saffron Monastery, a 5th-century Syriac Orthodox monastery five kilometres east of Mardin. Active monastic community, Sunday services in Syriac (Aramaic), crypts that predate the monastery. Small dress code, covered shoulders and knees.
Midyat Old Town
An hour east of Mardin, Midyat is the heart of the Syriac Christian Tur Abdin plateau. Beautiful stone houses, active Syriac monasteries nearby and excellent silver workshops. The wine shops sell the local Suryani white wine.
Mor Gabriel Monastery
One of the oldest continuously active Christian monasteries in the world, founded in 397 AD, on the Tur Abdin plateau 80 km east of Mardin near Midyat. The monastery still houses a small community of Syriac Orthodox monks and nuns. The church of the Mother of God dates from the 5th century; the complex walls, towers and gardens have been maintained for over 1,600 years. Visits by guided tour; check opening hours in advance.
Kasimiye Medrese
A 15th-century theological school with a stunning stone facade, central pool and symbolic channels representing life, death and eternity. A masterpiece of Artukid and Akkoyunlu architecture, with the best panoramic view in the old town.
Ulu Cami
The 12th-century Grand Mosque of Mardin, with a striking fluted minaret visible from all over the old town. Originally built under the Artukid dynasty. Simple, beautiful interior.
Dara Ancient City
A late Roman frontier city 30 km southeast of Mardin, founded in the 6th century as a fortress against the Sasanian Persians. Carved into the soft rock are immense cisterns, a necropolis of rock-cut tombs and the remains of city walls, gates and a dam, all sitting in a small farming village where the modern houses lean against the ancient stones. A short, atmospheric stop on the road to the Mesopotamian plain.
Zinciriye Madrasah
A 14th-century Artuqid madrasah at the top of the old town, with twin domed prayer halls and a courtyard pool. The terrace and rooftop offer one of the best views in Mardin, looking out across the stone city and down over the Mesopotamian plain that stretches into Syria. A short, steep climb from the bazaar and the natural place to end an afternoon as the light softens on the stone.
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