Itinerary

1. Day 1: Explore Mardin

   • Meet your hotel's tour guide, explore the Mardin Museum's regional history, and learn more about Mardin's Christian heritage. The museum in Mardin is housed in one of the town's greatest 19th-century palaces, originally serving as the Syriac Catholic Patriarchate's administrative center. Despite being tiny, the carefully managed collection inside illustrates the extensive history of southeast Anatolia. Excellent exhibits include those of Assyrian and Bronze Age ceramics in particular. The structure is worth a visit even if you're not a fan of museums just to wander around its elaborate courtyard and up to its terraces with their regal colonnades. 
   • Walk around the rooms to get an excellent picture of the elegant way in which local merchants and other people at the top of Mardin society in the past would have lived. It has been restored to an impressive standard.
   • See the Mor Behnan Church (Forty Martyrs Church). The upper part of the Mardin Museum is known as the area where Assyrian families live. This church is located in this area. This church, built by the Assyrians in the name of Mor Behnam and his sister Saro in 569, was originally called the Kırklar Church since it was converted into a mosque in the 12th century. The church takes its name from the 40 soldiers exiled to the ice lake in Sivas because of their rebellion against the Roman Emperor Dokios, who put great pressure on Christians in the 3rd century, and became known as the city after they froze there. This 4th-century church still holds services every Sunday, which tourists are welcome to attend. If you're not here on Sunday, the church is open daily for visits (the current opening times are posted on the gate). Although small, the interior holds some beautiful icons and paintings that are definitely worth a peek at.
   • Head to the Ulu Cami (Grand Mosque), constructed in the 11th century by the Artuqid Dynasty, is tucked away on the eastern end of the bazaar neighbourhood. The highlight of a visit to Mardin is the enormous internal courtyard and the minaret, one of the city's most identifiable and photographed sights due to its distinctive stone carvings. The internal prayer area, which is divided into three portions, was severely damaged during a Kurdish rebellion in 1832, and today it is relatively plain. There are many more mosques in the city to see if you're interested in mosque architecture, most of which are scattered along or nearby Cumhuriyet Caddesi.
   • Go to the Sehidiye Mosque, built in the fourteenth century, with a needle-like tower with intricate carvings. After about 200 meters of travelling east along the road, you will reach the massive Melik Mahmut Mosque, also from the 14th century and made of golden stones.
   • Explore Mardin's Alleys. The majority of visitors' favourite activity in Mardin is simply to wander the town's cobblestone lanes, looking for small details in the buildings' exquisitely preserved stone facades and exploring the narrow back alleys, even though the city is home to several significant historic buildings. Expect plenty of uphill and downhill walking on an aimless stroll because Mardin is spread out over a hillslope, with some roads connected by steep staircases. Mardin is filled with cafés, many of which are located in restored stone-cut cottages. These are ideal places to pause while wandering.

2. Day 2: Midyat - Dara

   • Visit Midyat. This region, which consists of hills encompassing Midyat and its surroundings, is called Tur Abdin, which means "mountain of servants" in Syriac. It is an extremely important and sacred region for the Syriac Orthodox. 
   • See the most famous monastery, Mor Gabriel Church. Located near the Yayvantepe (Kartmin) village, this monastery, founded in 397, is the oldest surviving Syriac Orthodox monastery in the world. Apart from this, its twin bell tower is very important architecturally. There are interesting structures such as Theodora Dome, Anastasios Church, Beth Kadise and Virgin Mary Church in the monastery.
   • Learn about the two products that are incredibly important and famous in Midyat. One of them is Syriac wine, and the other is Filigree. Actually, this is the starting point for both of them.
   • Witness the Telkari Workshop, which was established with the support of Artuklu University.
   • Go to the Virgin Mary Church in Anıtlı village, 22 km from Midyat. This visual masterpiece is a must-see church. You will be very surprised to see that one of the churches you admire abroad is also in our country. The church, which belongs to the Syriac Catholic community, is a structure that will take you on a historical journey. The part known as Hah Cathedral, located here, was the science center of the period.
   • Drive to Dara; taking its name from the Persian King Darius, this city, which is considered the Ephesus of Mesopotamia, is 30 km from the center of Mardin. It was established for military purposes as a garrison city in 505 AD to protect against the Sassanids.
   • Return to Mardin.

3. Day 3: Medrese Tour in Mardin

   • Visit Deyrulzafaran Monastery, one of the most important Assyrian monasteries built in the 5th century. Apart from its magnificent architecture, the building, which operated as the residence of the Syriac Orthodox patriarchs for 640 years until 1932, is located on a slope overlooking the plains.
   • Learn about the most important structures, the Mor Hananyo Church, the House of Saints, the Virgin Mary Church and the Sun Temple. One of the greatest features of the monastery is the tombs of 52 Syriac patriarchs. See the architecture of the medrese inside the Kasmiye Medresesi. The theological college and domed mosque are part of this medrese complex from the fifteenth century. The buildings in the complex are arranged around lovely courtyards, giving the entire area a serene atmosphere.
   • Head to Zinciriye Medresesi. One of Mardin's best-preserved structures, it is renowned for its breathtaking rooftop views that sweep across the entire city and out to the Mesopotamian plains below. It was built in 1385. The entire madrasah was built with a symmetrical architectural structure. Since this place was also used as an observatory, it was built at a height. The complex consists of a mausoleum, a mosque with a dome, and two serene interior courtyards. The massive, ornately carved doorway, which is a stunning example of Islamic art, is the building's architectural high point.