The Black Sea Coast and Lake Van
We’ve compiled the best of the best in The Black Sea Coast and Lake Van - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
Sort by:
6 Recommendations
{{numTotalPoiResults}} {{ (numTotalPoiResults===1)?'Recommendation':'Recommendations' }}
0 Recommendations
Loading...
-
1. Bazaar
Mardin's lively bazaar runs parallel to the old town's main street, Birinici Caddesi, and is refreshingly free of the stalls selling the usual tourist gifts. This is the place to come if you're looking to buy a new saddle for your donkey or a copper urn—or as is more likely, if you just want to get the feel of an authentic town bazaar. There are also spice shops, fresh fruit and vegetable stands with the produce of the season piled high, and assorted other shops catering to local needs. In the center of the bazaar is the 12th-century Ulu Camii, with its beautifully carved minaret.
Birinici Cad., Mardin, Mardin, Turkey -
2. Kasimiye Madrasa
Follow the signs a short distance west of the city center to Kasimiye Madrasa, which was completed around 1459 by Sultan Kasim of the Akkoyunlu dynasty. The building has two clear halves: to the right is the mosque and to the left, through a beautiful doorway, are cells for the theological students, surrounding a pretty courtyard.
Near city center, Mardin, Mardin, TurkeySight Details
Rate Includes: Free, Daily sunrise–sunset -
3. Kirklar Kilisesi
Mardin was once home to a large Christian community and several churches remain in the city, although only a few are still functioning. The most likely to be open is the Kirklar Kilisesi, a Syriac Orthodox Church of the Forty Martyrs. It's on a narrow lane a hundred yards or so west of the Mardin Museum. Parts of the church dates back to the year 569, though most of what you see is medieval. There are some beautiful stone carvings and a shady courtyard. Neighborhood children will offer to take you there, which is probably a good idea, since it can be hard to find. To see it in action, attend a Sunday service at around 9 am, but make sure to dress modestly and be aware that photography is forbidden.
217 Sağlik Sok. 8, Mardin, Mardin, TurkeyNo phoneSight Details
Rate Includes: Free, Daily 8–5 -
4. Orthodox Dayrul Zafran
Just 10 km (6 miles) southeast of Mardin is the Syrian Orthodox Dayrul Zafran. Founded in the 5th century and partially restored in the 19th century, the monastery is still in use and sits like a golden (or saffron) jewel in the scrubby hills of a hidden side valley. Highlights of the guided tour include the main church and the burial chapel, which date from the 5th century and are filled with Roman detailing, and an underground chamber, said to be a former sun temple—the heavy stone ceiling is a miracle of Roman engineering. You may catch sight of one of the rahip (priests) who still speak and teach Aramaic, the language of Christ.
Mardin, Mardin, TurkeyNo phoneSight Details
Rate Includes: 6 TL, Daily 9–11:30 and 1–4:30 (5:30 in summer) -
5. Sakıp Sabancı City Museum
Set in a beautifully restored army barrack dating back to 1889, the wealthy Turkish Sakıp Sabancı Foundation opened this museum in 2009 and it gives a fascinating look into how important private funding is to Turkey's cultural life. Its exhibits tell the story of the Mardin you see today, with excellent English translations, short video interviews, and artifacts that go beyond the city's history and introduce the local people and their crafts. The temporary art exhibitions held downstairs are also worth a look.
1. Cad., Mardin, Mardin, Turkey482-212–9396Sight Details
Rate Includes: 2 TL, Tues.–Sun. 8:30–5 -
Recommended Fodor’s Video
-
6. Zinciriye Medrese
Built in 1385 by Artukid Sultan İsa, this medrese (Islamic school) sits up just above the rest of the city, and its crenulated dome forms a Mardin landmark. The compound includes a courtyard (now a tea garden), a mosque, and a tomb intended for the sultan. Head up to the upper terrace for one of the best views of the city.
North of Cumhuriyet Cad., Mardin, Mardin, TurkeySight Details
Rate Includes: Free, Daily sunrise–sunset
-
{{ (numCurrentPage-1)*numPageLimit+index+1 }}.
{{ item.neighborhood }} | {{ item.first_keyword }}{{ item.review }}
{{ item.address }}{{ item.phone[0] }}{{ item.details.title }} Details
{{ item.details.content.toString() }}View Tours and Activities -
Recommended Fodor’s Video
No sights Results
Please try a broader search, or expore these popular suggestions:
There are no results for {{ strDestName }} Sights in the searched map area with the above filters. Please try a different area on the map, or broaden your search with these popular suggestions:
