The Black Sea Coast and Lake Van
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1. City walls
The Romans left a strong mark on Diyarbakır—not only did they lay the foundations for its famous city walls, but they created the basic layout of the old town: a rough rectangle with two main streets that cross and connect the four gates that are found at each compass point. The walls were constructed by the Byzantine Emperor Constantius in the 4th century and various Arab and Turkish rulers restored and added to them over the centuries, until the local Artukid Turcoman emir al Malik al-Salih Mahmud gave them their current form in 1208. On the whole, the walls remain in good shape along their entire length; indeed, if you feel like a bit of an adventure, the best way to appreciate these great walls is to wander along the top. Of the original 72 towers, 67 are still standing, decorated with myriad inscriptions in the language of every conqueror and with Seljuk reliefs of animals and men; you can also explore their inner chambers and corridors. In 2015, the walls became a UNESO World Heritage sight, along with the surrounding Hevsel Gardens, the greenbelt between Diyarbakir and the Tigris River.
Diyarbakir, Diyarbakir, Turkey -
2. Archaeological Museum
The city's excellent archaeological museum reopened in 2015 in a new location in the İç Kale complex. Atmospherically lit, it features exhibits covering 4,000 years of history, including findings from excavations in the Diyarbakır area, from Stone Age tools to Byzantine pottery and Islamic coins.
Diyarbakir, Diyarbakir, TurkeyNo phoneSight Details
Rate Includes: 5 TL, Tues.–Sun. 8–5 -
3. Bazaar
Diyarbakır's bazaar encompasses the half dozen streets surrounding Ulu Cami; most stalls are shrines to wrought metal—gates, picks, shovels, plumbing fixtures, plastic shoes, and other things you probably would not want to carry home in your luggage. Across the street from the mosque is the grand 16th-century Hasan Paşa Hanı, a photogenic kervansaray (a roadside inn), housing a few carpet and souvenir dealers. It's a tranquil place to stop for tea or a generous brunch.
Around Ulu Cami, Diyarbakir, Diyarbakir, Turkey -
4. Cahit Sıtkı Tarancı Müzesi
Down a narrow alleyway north of the Ulu Cami in the old city, the Cahit Sıtkı Tarancı Müzesi is a historic home dating back to 1734 that has been renovated and turned into an ethnographic museum, with rooms displaying scenes of life as it once was in Diyarbakır. The museum, which has a pleasant courtyard with a fountain, offers the best opportunity in town of seeing what an old Diybarbakır house looked like.
Ziya Gökalp Sok. 3, Diyarbakir, Diyarbakir, Turkey412-223–8958Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free, Tues.–Sun. 8–noon and 1–5 -
5. Dört Ayaklı Minare
The old town's most recognizable monument is the Dört Ayaklı Minare (Four-Footed Minaret) of the Şeyh Mutahhar Mosque. The minaret balances on four basalt columns, a marvel of medieval engineering. Legend has it that your wish will come true if you circle the minaret seven times.
Yenikapı Cad., Diyarbakir, Diyarbakir, TurkeyNo phone -
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6. İç Kale
The inner castle of Diyarbakır's old town is a circular fortress that once held the city's palace and other important buildings. Beside it stands the 16th-century Hazreti Süleymaniye Cami, which contains the grave of the son of Khalid ibn al-Walid, the companion of the prophet Muhammad who died during the city's capture. It has a tall, graceful minaret and is striped with black basalt and pale sandstone, a favorite design of this city's medieval architects. Its courtyard fountain is fed by an underground spring that has supplied cold, clear water to the city for 5,000 years. It has undergone extensive research in recent years and now holds the city's fantastic Archaeological Museum in one of the renovated court buildings. There's also an Atatürk Museum (as it seems no Turkish city is complete without one) and the early Byzantine Church of St. George, which with its two impressive domes is worth a visit.
Diyarbakir, Diyarbakir, TurkeyNo phoneSight Details
Rate Includes: Daily sunrise–sunset -
7. Meryem Ana Kilisesi
Diybarbakır was once home to a large Christian population—Armenians, Chaldeans, and Assyrians—and several churches remain, although the only one that still holds regular services is the Assyrian Orthodox Meryem Ana Kilisesi, on the western end of the old city. A peaceful oasis in the midst of the bustling city, the church is said to be built on the site of what was a temple used by sun worshippers and has a large courtyard lined with basalt stones. Parts of the church date back to the 4th century—look for the remains of the Roman arch beside the altar—but most of the structure is medieval. Services are held every Sunday at 8 am, although only a few people usually show up. Look for the signs from the Urfa Gate and be aware that this is one of the poorer parts of the old city.
Ana Sok. 26, Diyarbakir, Diyarbakir, TurkeyNo phoneSight Details
Rate Includes: Daily 9–5 -
8. Surp Giragos Kilisesi
After an extensive restoration project, this Armenian church has been returned to its former glory. The complex also includes a former school, clergy accommodations, and a chapel. Events celebrating Armenian culture are occasionally held here.
Özdemir Sok., Diyarbakir, Diyarbakir, Turkey -
9. Ulu Cami
In the center of the old city is the Ulu Cami, one of the oldest mosques in Anatolia. Though the present form dates from 1091, its colonnades incorporate elements of the Byzantine Cathedral of St. Thomas that once stood here. Its design follows earlier Arab tradition and closely resembles the great Ummayid Mosque of Damascus. Note the Arabic-style flat roof and almost basilica-like rectangular plan, different from the square-shape and domed mosques common in Turkey.
Gazi Cad., opposite Yapı Kredi Bank, Diyarbakir, Diyarbakir, TurkeyNo phoneSight Details
Rate Includes: Daily 10 am–sunset
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