Tourism, today, is not just about structures or souvenirs but they are all about offering experiences – be that through people, through food or innovation.
Turkey as one of the world's premier tourism destinations for visitors coming from different countries in Mediterranean has lots to offer. And one of its lesser known jewels is the city situated on the banks of Tigris – Diyarbakir.
The Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism through its various programs has been seen as essential ally in promoting tourism in the country.
Turkey offers a rich history that can be witnessed from its fortress and rock solid structure including the churches, mosques, tomb and the city walls.
Throughout Ottoman history, Diyarbakir prospered as one of the most important cities of the empire, both culturally and militarily. Wandering the backstreets of the Old City, in the narrow alleyways, one can easily discover the city's real charm.
It's not the easiest place to navigate, but getting lost and wandering around Diyarbakir's maze-like streets is a big part of the experience. You'll encounter local markets, tea shops, pleasant parks and interesting buildings that don't appear in guidebooks or maps.
A plethora of options are available for any visitors to the town, here are a few:
Archaeology Museums
It is the first museum that provides an informative overview of Diyarbakir's history, from the Neolithic era through Ottoman times. There's a nice little collection of ancient stone tools and vessels, along with models of prehistoric settlements found throughout the province.
Additionally, there's plenty of sign boards providing background info on the various landmarks you can find around the Old City.
Surp Giragos Church
The largest and historic Armenian Apostolic church in Diyarbakir, it is one of the largest Armenian church in the Middle East.
Saint George Church
The 1,800-year old Saint George Church serves as an art gallery. Inside the art center, is the machine hallucination an immersive audiovisual digital installation of Renaissance Dreams by the Turkish-American media artist and designer, Refik Anadol. His projects consist of data-driven machine learning algorithms that create abstract, dream-like environments.
Diyarbakir Ulu Cami (Grand Mosque)
Diyarbakir's Ulu Cami is one of the oldest mosques in all of Anatolia and considered to be the fifth holiest site in Islam. Most of the mosque's highlights can be viewed from within its large courtyard. Its tall minaret was built of brick in the typical Diyarbakir square-shaped style and Arabic calligraphy that was later carved into the stone that makes Diyarbakir's Ulu Cami one of the most unique mosques in all of Turkey.
Mesudiye Medresa
The first university in Anatolia, Mesudiye Medresa is located at the northern wing of Grand Mosque of Diyarbakir. Built of cut stones approximately 800 years before, there are two rotating stone columns in the courtyard that were placed to detect any cracks or collapse that might occur in the building.
The Four-Legged Minaret
One of Diyarbakir's most unique landmarks is its 'Four-Legged Minaret,' known locally as Dört Ayakli Minare. It's the only minaret in all of Turkey balanced on four stone pillars, and has since become a symbol of the city. At two meters off the ground, the basalt pillars are tall enough to walk under, which some locals do for good luck.
The City Walls
Diyarbakir's city walls are considered to be the world's longest after the Great Wall of China. The original walls were built by the Romans after they took the city from the Persian Sassanids.
The various kingdoms that came later to control the city then repeatedly repaired and expanded them.
On Gözlü Köprü (Ten Arches Bridge)
Returning to the main road and continuing south, for an even closer look at the Tigris River, On Gozlu Kopru or Ten Eyed Bridge will soon come into view. Known to be the first Islamic bridge in Anatolia constructed by the Seljuks in 1065, it stretches out to 178 m long and features ten arches from which it takes its name. You can walk across and sit down at one of the numerous riverside cafes.
Suluklu Han
Located in the bustling Old Town known for its blacksmith artisans, Suluklu Han is a cafe inn built in 17th century by HaniliogI Mahmoud Chalabi and his sister, Hatun Bibi. It remains a popular hot-spot for youth and elders catching up at breakfast, brunch and dinner. Massive inscription at the entrance welcomes the guests.
Beyoglu Istiklal Street
Historically known as the Grand Avenue of Pera, it is one of the most famous avenues located at Beyoglu district. A visit to Istiklal Street is an opportunity to experience the unique energy and the spirit of the street and its people. With millions of tourists visiting it every day, it is one of the must-visit places in the country.
Vintage red tram is as much a fixture of Istiklal Street as the cobbles on the road. No trip would be complete without boarding one of these that have carried shoppers and tourists up and down the bustling avenue for decades. This is one of the many examples in Istanbul of the past working seamlessly into the unique modern culture of the city.
Taksim
Crowning the street at the northern end is Taksim Square, the site of many demonstrations and protests. Within it is a statue of Atatürk, The Republic Monument, which commemorates Turkey’s War of Independence and the founder of the Turkish Republic, and it is a symbolic spot for many.
Akbank Sanat
The art center founded by the Turkish bank Akbank. It is one of the pioneer organizations that offer the emerging artists and curators the opportunity to realize their exhibitions.
Galata Tower
With the current official name Galata Kulesi Museum. It is named after the quarter in which it is located. It is one of the most iconic monuments that proffers the most stellar visuals of the entire city and it has amazing views of the entire Istanbul and its surroundings.
AKM “Atatürk Cultural Center’’
A giant art complex including an opera hall, a theater, a gallery, a multi-purpose hall, a children's art center, a music platform and a music recording studio, an art specialization library, a mini-movie theater and a design shop are one of the symbols of the city that appeals to their cultural significance.
Atatürk Library
Inside this huge complex, there is also a culture street stretching from AKM to the Atatürk Library. It provides a research opportunity mainly for the students studying in any field of art, besides instructors, artists, and all enthusiasts. It leads the way of digital and visual archives including 15,000 books with special editions of the world's most prestigious publishing houses along with signed copies specific to the library, with academicians, university students, artists, art enthusiasts, and tourists visiting Turkey from various countries.
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