Diyarbakir Turkey Travel Discounts and Information

	Ruins & Sights
	Çayönü	Excavations in and around the Hilar Caves have revealed this to be one of the oldest settlements of Anatolia, dating back to the 8^th millennium B.C. The artifacts belong to the Early Agricultural Village Communities period within the Neolithic Age. The Hilar Caves are located within the boundaries of Sesveren Pınar of Ergani district of Diyarbakır province.
	Üçtepe	Ruins from the New Assyrian era including findings from Hurri - Mitanni, Helenistic and Roman periods.It is located at Üçtepe village of Bismil District of Diyarbakır. Excavations were started in 1988 at Üçtepe which is one of the bigger tumuluses of the area, under the scientific leadership of Prof. Dr. Veli Sevin by the Directorate of Diyarbakır Museum.
	Dakyanus & Atak (Antak)	Ancient cities

	Museums
	Atatürk's Villa Museum	One of the finest examples of a traditional Diyarbakir house
	Cahit Sitki Taranci Museum	The house where Cahit Sitki Taranci, one of the most celebrated poets of the Republican period, was born was turned into a museum in 1973. The museum exhibits the photographs and personal articles of the poet as well as some ethnographic pieces obtained from the area. The house bears the characteristic features of local architecture.
	Ziya Gokalp Museum	This house, where the famous scholar Ziya Gökalp was born in 1876 was purchased from his inheritors in 1953 and was opened to public as a Museum - Residence on March 23, 1956. Ethnographic artifacts of the region are displayed in addition to the personal belongings of the writer. A typical example of civic architecture of Diyarbakır, the house was built in 1808. A two story structure built with black basalt stone and designed in two sections for men and women. Its different spaces are arranged around an inner courtyard. One of the facades is a double arched antechamber with a portico, which, with the pool located in this section, offers a pleasant sitting area. The house is adorned with the white decorations which the locals call "ciz" or "kehal", and there are inscriptions in Arabic over some of the doors.
	Diyarbakir Archaeology Museum	Pieces, starting with the Neolithic Age and including those from Old Bronz, Urartu, Assyrian, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk, Akkoyunlu and Ottoman Periods are displayed in chronological order. Coins from different eras, most from the Artuklu Period, and local artifacts of ethnographic character are also exhibited at the museum. Ziya Gökalp Bulvari - Diyarbakir, Tel: (412) 221 2755, Fax: (412) 223 0802

	Parks & Nature	Çermik hot springs

	Notable Architecture	Old Diyarbakir Houses, Kenok (Kemkük), Dicle and Malabadi bridges, Abdullay Pasha and Hatuniye old theological schools
	City Walls	Situated on the banks of Tigris (Dicle) river in South-Eastern Anatolia, Diyarbakir still carries a medieval air with its walls encircling the city. The black basalt walls are perfect examples of the military architecture of the Middle Ages. They are also very well known since they are the second largest (5.5 kms) and best preserved walls in the world after the famous Great Wall of China. Roman and Byzantine additions to the wall can be seen today. There are sixteen keeps and five gates, each of which deserves seeing along with their inscriptions and relief. There are four main gates along the wall called as Dag Kapi, Urfa Kapi, Mardin Kapi and Yeni Kapi, and they open to four different directions. The walls are 12 meters high, 3-5 meters wide and have 82 watchtowers.
	Deliler Han	You can have the chance to go back to the old days at the (Inn) by the Mardin Kapi of the City Walls. It was built by Husrev Pasha in 1527 and also known by his name. Now it is restored as a hotel with 120 beds preserving the original air of the old days when caravan travelers used to stop and rest in this caravanserai. It is a two part structure, a two story main part and a stable. The local people call it "deliller" (guides) since guides who took pilgrims from various locations to Mecca each year used to gather here. The remains existing just across the inn are also attributed to pilgrims.
	Malabadi Bridge	Build in 1147 during the Artukoğulları Period, this bridge was used as a checkpoint along the "Silk Road". Two chambers of 4.50 X 5.30 size at both ends of the bridge were where the guards responsible for the security of the bridge were posted and where caravan travelers could rest. Inside the spiral columned niches on the gullies of the bridge are paintings of human, animal and sun motifs. The feet of the large pointed arch at the center are based on rocks. The bridge is located on the Diyarbakır - Batman highway, on the right hand side of the new road.

	Mosques, Churches and Temples	Nebi, Behram Pasha, Safa (Iparli), Hazreti Süleyman, Nasuh Pasha, Fatih Pasha, Iskender Pasha, Melek Ahmet, Lala Bey, Ali Pasha, Behram Pasha, Hoca Ahmet (Ayni Minare), Hüsrev Pasha, Kasim Padishah Mosques; Meryem Ana (Virgin Mary), Nasturi, and Keldani (Chaldean) Churches
	Kasim Padisah Mosque	Interesting due to the engineering which built a large tower upon four tiny pillars about two meters (6.5 ft) high, called the Dort Ayakli Minare (minaret).
	Ulu Mosque	A fascinating sight in the city center is the Ulu Mosque, notable for its original architecture and the ancient materials used in the restoration of the building at various times. It is one of the oldest mosques in Turkey. It is known that the Church of Saint Thomas was gradually converted into a mosque. It is a grand and impressive structure, built of cut stone over an area of 80 x 80 meters. The minaret behind the mosque is rectangular. Its fountain (1849), carved marbles and niche are all important artworks. The walls of the mosque are also ornamented with reliefs and carvings. The minaret and the gate bear 20 inscriptions dating back to various periods in history. The tombs in the courtyard was destroyed by the Persian King Ismail in 1507.

	Palaces and Fortresses	Atak and Silvan castles
	Diyarbakir Fortress	The most famous structure of Diyarbakir is its fortress. This fortress located on a solid rock called "Fis" 100 meters high from the Tigris (Dicle) river is believed to be built by the Hurri. The citadel has a domed basilica (Nasturian Church from the 6th century), a mosque, Sahabeler tomb, Artukogullari Palace and some old official buildings.
	Diyarbakır Castle	Located at the Provincial center, the magnificent Diyarbakır Castle is 5700 m. long, 12 m. high and 3- 5 m. wide, with a plan resembling a turbot fish. The castle has four entrances and eighty two bastions. The most important of the later is the Yedi Kardes Burçu "bastion of seven Brothers", built in 1208 by the Artuklu King Melik Salih Memduh. It has double headed eagle and winged lion reliefs. An inscription goes around the bastion like a sash. The castle which was built in the year 349 during the Roman period, was repaired at various times during the Islamic period, and took its present form with several additions.

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