Discover 4 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Mardin (Turkey). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Mor Hananyo Monastery, Mardin Kalesi, and Kasımiye Medrese. Also, be sure to include Artuklu in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Mardin (Mardin).
Table of Contents
Mor Hananyo Monastery
Also known as: Deyrüzzaferân Manastırı
Monastery in Turkey. Dayro d-Mor Hananyo is an important Syriac Orthodox monastery. The monastery is located in the Syriac cultural region known as Tur Abdin, and is located three kilometers south east of Mardin, Turkey.
It is usually better known by its nickname, the "Saffron Monastery" (Syriac: ܕܝܪܐ ܕܟܘܪܟܡܐ, Dairo d-Kurkmo; Arabic: دير الزعفران, Dairu 'l-Za‘farān) which is derived from the warm color of its stone. Syriac Orthodox culture was centered in two monasteries near Mardin (west of Tur Abdin), Mor Gabriel and Deyrulzafaran.[1]
Address: Merkez Mardin Merkez, Mardin Merkez, Mardin
Mardin Kalesi
Castle in Turkey. Mardin Castle is a 3,000 year old defensive fortification in the city of Mardin, Turkey. It is known as the Eagle's Nest. The castle has been used as a military base as part of a NATO agreement and hosts a radar station due to its position 1,000 meters above the Mesopotamian plain.
One legend states that the castle was constructed in the 4th century BC by a Babylonian fire worshipper called Shad Buhari, who "recovered from a serious illness while staying up on the hill, and so he decided to erect a palace there".
The castle was constructed during the 10th century rule of the Hamdanid dynasty to the Artuqid dynasty from the 11th to 13th century. The castle was partly restored during the reign of Ottoman Sultan Selim III, but by the end of the Ottoman Empire had again fallen into disrepair. In the 2010s, works were carried out to strengthen its structure and prevent rocks falling down onto the city. The castle has seen numerous attempts to open it to tourism which have often been blocked by bureaucratic obstacles.
In 2014, Mardin Deputy Governor Ali Güldoğan told Hurriyet that the civilian administration "had applied many times since 2008 for the military unit to leave the castle and open it to tourism".
In June, 2015, former Mardin co-mayor Ahmet Türk of the People's Democratic Party "initiated a campaign in collaboration with non-governmental organizations with the slogan “Mardin Castle belongs to the people of Mardin” and demanded the castle to be open to visitors", according to Hurriyet.
In 2017, the Justice and Development Party deputy Orhan Miroğlu suggested that the site could be opened to tourism. As of 2021 the castle remains a military base, but it is possible to walk almost to the top to see views of the city.[2]
Kasımiye Medrese
Historical place in Turkey. The Kasımiye Medrese or Kasim Pasha Medrese is a former madrasa in Mardin, Turkey.[3]
Artuklu
Municipality in Turkey. Artuklu is a district and second level municipality in Mardin Province, Turkey. According to the 2012 Metropolitan Municipalities Law, all Turkish provinces with a population more than 750000 will become metropolitan municipalities and the districts within the metropolitan municipalities will be second-level municipalities. The law also creates new districts within the provinces in addition to present districts. In March 2019, Abdulkadir Tutaşı was elected mayor. Since August 2019, Hacı Hasan Gökpinar is the Kaymakam.
Artuklu was the name of a Turkmen dynasty which ruled in and around Mardin in the 14th century.[4]