Mardin

Area: 12.760 km²

Population: 705.098 (2000)

Traffic Code: 47

The province of Mardin, is a poetic city of Southeast Anatolia Region reflecting the impression as if the time had stopped with its present architectural, ethnographic, archeological, historic and visual merits. The city hosts mosques, mausoleums, churches, monasteries and similar religious creations parallel to the different religious beliefs all of which are representing both artistic and historic values. The province of Mardin is located along the historical Silk Road and there are 5 inns and caravansaries in the city.

Districts: Mardin (center), Dargeçit, Derik, Kızıltepe, Mazıdağı, Midyat, Nusaybin, Ömerli, Savur, Yeşilli.

How to Get

Highway: It is possible to reach to the bus station by municipality buses and minibuses.

Bus Station Tel: (+ 90 - 482) 212 15 49

Railway: The railway enters the lands of the province from Şanlıurfa - Ceylanpınar and reaches to Syria and Iraq following the borderline. This line also passes from Şenyurt borough and the province of Mardin is connected to this line with 30 km. line.

Railway Station Tel: (+ 90 - 482) 212 51 36

Air Transportation: The flights to Istanbul is possible via a transfer in Ankara in five days of the week (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday).

Airport Tel: (+ 90 - 482) 313 00 00 - 313 27 18

Midyat

Midyat, which is a museum city like Mardin, is approximately 1.5 hours away from Mardin. Midyat, where, rock mansions, gates with arches, Süryani churches with minaret like ascending gong towers, is reminding a Medieval city. City center is moved to 2 km. away Estel with slowly leaving the region of Süryanis and emigration. Most beautiful samples of masonry, known as Telkari were in Midyat. A few telkari masters are trying to continue their job within Midyat bazaar. You should absolutely see….

This very important province of Mardin is also famous with silver smiting. Province, which is an important place in connection with handicrafts is also attractive related with tourism. Deyrulumur Monastery, which is 18 km. east of the province is constructed in 397 A. D. On 640 A. D. during Hz. Ömer, when Arabic Islam army cooperates with Süryanis, and enter into Mesopotamia, for especially preservation of this piece of arts a privilege is given to it by Hz.

Ömer’s order. There were a rich library within the monastery formerly. There were also a theology church, in which thousands of students were educating. Products such as Oak, Bitim, Pistachio and unique Russian cucumber and melon is cultivated in Midyat. It is a junction point, where most quality grapes of the world are cultivated.

History

The province, which is a part of Upper Mesopotamia, is founded in Tur-Abidin (Turabdin) Region. Midyat, is known as “Matiate”, which means cavern city in 9th century B. C. Asur Tablets. Probably its name is coming from this.

Climate

Midyat, which is 1,5 hour away from Mardin, shows the similar climate characteristics as Mardin. Summers are very hot and dry, and winters are rainy and cold in Midyat, which has the characteristics of both Mediterranean climate and terrestrial climate.

Ancient Cities

Dara Ruins This ancient city is located at 30 km. away from the southeast of Mardin province in Oğuz village. This city is the most famous city of the ancient Mesopotamia region.

The ruins of Dara city is spread over a vast area which could extent to 8 - 10 km. and there are houses carved into rocks and founded in caves. The church, palace, bazaar and storage yards, dungeon and the water dam are still visual among the ruins of the city.

There are also 6 - 7 cave houses around the village. The history of this caves extend to the Late Roman (Early Byzantine) period.

Castles

Mardin Castle: This castle was constructed by Hamdani nation in AD 975 - 976 years. There is a mosque, bath, dungeon and numerous warehouses inside the castle.

Dara Castle: The castle is located 30 km. away from Mardin province. The castle was constructed by the monarch of İran.

Religious Monuments

As Mardin Province is an important center of Religion Tourism, the important religious structures in the Mardin city center could be counted as; Ulu Mosque, Meryem Ana Church (Mother Marian) and Patriarchate, Mor Yusuf Church (Surp Hovsep), Deyruülzzafaran Monastery (Mor Hananya), Deyrulumur Monastery (Mor Gabriyel), Mor Yakup Monastery (Nusaybin), Midyat Meryemana Monastery and Mor Dimet Monastery.

Mardin

Ulu Mosque (Center): It is within the bedesten and 12th century Artukluoğlu structure. There are quite many adornments and decorations in the mosque.
Latifiye (Abdullatif) Mosque (Center): It is located at the south of the Republic Square. From the inscription of the crown gate,it is understood that it was constructed by Abdüllatif who was in charge during the second Artuklu Sultan in 1371.

The present minaret was constructed by the Governor of Musul Gürcü Mehmet Paşa in 1845. The crown gate in the east is among the most well protected structures of Mardin. Latest period minber ( hooded dais) and mahfil (tribume for müezzins or the royal loge) reflect the genuine of Seljuk wooden art.

Zinciriye Medresseh (Center): It is located in Medrese quarter. Dated 1385, the structure composed of a rectangular mosque covering a wide area, a tomb and several additional sections.The complex is rich in decoration.

Kasımiye Medresseh (Center): Set out to be constructed during the dominance of Artuklu, the building was thought to have been completed during the rule of Akkoyunlu Sultan Kasım between the years 1487-1502. Dated 15th, the construction displays the features of the previous Artuklu Period( 14th century) in terms of its architecture and adornments.

Melik Mahmut Mosque (Bab Es Sur Mosque, Center): It is on the north of the road leading to Savur gate. The epitaph on the crown gate indicates that the date of construction is 1363-1364, yet Katip Ferdi states that it is 1362-1363. According to this the building dates back to the third quarter of 14th century.

Deyr Ul Zaferan Monastery (Center): 5 km from east of Mardin, the monastry was constructed in 4th century. Engraved Virgin Mary Church(Theodoros Temple) and Mar Yakup Monastry with Deyr ul Zaferan constituted a trio which is one kilometer north from the monastery. There is a Bible of great historical value and a sacred stone in the mosque, from where the first School of Medicine is to thought to have been established.

Deyr ul Zaferan is one of the most known structure of Upper Mesopatamia and the religious center of Süryani Kadim Community. The monastery was built in IVth century and mosaics remaining from that period have still been present. One of the most significant properties of the monastry is the fact that the graves of the 52 Syrian Orthodox patriarch are within this structure.

Deyr Ul Umur (Mar Gabriel) (Midyat): It is 18 kilometres from east of Midyat. One of the renowned and big constructions of Süryani Kadim Community, the monastery was perched on a high hill. The foundation of the building was commenced in 397 and completed in a short period of time. Through various periods additions had been made inside and outside of the monastery. These are; shelters and prayer lodges of priest constructed during King Arkadius period, monument house constructed during King Theodosyus ( today it is in service as Virgin Mary Church)to place tombs in it,, Resuller Church, Kırk Şehitler Church, the temple where Mar Şumuel was buried, Dome of Theodora ascending on eight arches located in the southwest of the monastery, the dome constructed by the Egyptians who participated in the affairs of the monastry as they had attracted by the grandeur of the structure and the grand Tomb built by King Anastos in 512 and famous with its motifs and mosaics.

Virgin Mary Church (Midyat): 40 km from east of Midyat county,on Dargeçit road, it is in Hah Village.

Mar Yakup Monastery (Nusaybin): At a distance of one kilometer, it is located in the west of Deyr ül Zaferan Monastery.Although the monastry had been called with the name of Arun in the ancient times, it was known to be Maryakup. It is estimated that it was built around Ist and IInd centuries.

Caves

Mardin Gızzelin Cave (Threat Weaving), Midyat Linveyri Cure Cave , Mardin Şakolin and Firiye, Midyat Kefilsannur, Midyat Şenköy Kefilmelep, Kefilmardin, Midyat Hapisnas, Midyat Tınat, Savur Kıllıt, Kızıltepe Hanika and Salah, Nusaybin Hessinmeryem and Sercahan, Mazıdağı Gümüşyuva and Avrıhan, Derik Derinsu, Dırkıp, Haramiye Caves are the caves inside the borders of Mardin.

Museums

It is in Mardin Center, on 1st Street of Cumhuriyet Avenue, beside Atatürk sculpture. In accordance with the inscription on the closed portal of Mother Mary Church looking to the museum, the building has been constructed by Antakya patriarch İgnatios Behnam Banni as Syrian catholic patriarchate.

Later, it has been used as military garrison, M.S.P provincial organization, cooperative building, health center and police station.

Ministry of Culture has purchased the building from Syrian Catholic Foundation, has decided to restore this building in 1988 and has opened it as a museum in 1995. Until that time, the old museum acted in Zinciriye Madrasa that has been constructed by Sultan İsa, who is one of Artuklu sultans.

The new museum building is completely made of cut limestone. There are unique ornaments on the internal and external vaults, arches, rails and column heads.

The museum has three floors:

On the first floor; reception, conference, exhibition and resting halls,

On the second floor; ethnography exhibition hall, library and work warehouses;

On the third floor; halls where some works obtained from Girnevas Tumulus excavation and archeological works provided to the museum by purchase are exhibited and administrative sections are located.

The works in the museum are works belonging to the period in between 4000 BC and 7th century BC. In the archeological halls, slabs, cylindrical and stamp seals, cult pots, figurines, metal awls, jewelry, ceramics, golden, silver and copper coins, tear bottles and candles belonging to the Old Bronze, Asyrrian, Urartu, Greek, Persian, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Grand Seljuk, Artuklu and Ottoman periods are exhibited.

In the ethnography hall, necklaces, earrings, bracelets, anklets, diadems, hair jewelry, which are elite samples of silver ornamenting special to Mardin and its surroundings, especially to Midyat District and besides them old clothes, swords, coffee (mırra) sets, bath

Geography

The province of Mardin displays the common properties of Mediterranean climate and terrestrial climate. The summer seasons are extremely hot and dry, the winter seasons are precipitant and cold.