Mardin鈥檚 Medieval Old Town, Mardin, Turkey

Limestone buildings cascade down the rocky hill, tumbling to the Mesopotamian Plain far below. Between these heritage homes, a labyrinth of tight cobblestone lanes wind up and down the slope. Spread along the top of the long cliff sit the remains of Mardin Castle. As soon a we saw this historic site from below, we knew Mardin鈥檚 Medieval Old Town was going to be a great city to explore.

Like many cities in Turkey, Mardin has been inhabited by many different civilizations as early as the 11th century BCE. Its location on a rocky ridge above the Mesopotamian Plain meant it was ideally positioned and therefore coveted by many leaders. Today Mardin鈥檚 Old Town is a blend of these varied civilizations, but the majority of buildings were built between the 12th to 15th centuries during the Artuqid Dynasty. These Turkic people were closely allied with the Seljuks, and a lot of their buildings have similar styles, although not nearly as elegant. You can read more about the Seljuk architecture in our post about聽Erzurum. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).

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Guide Name: Mardin鈥檚 Medieval Old Town
Guide Location: Turkey » Mardin
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Insider Tips)
Author: Maggie Kayes
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