Mesopotamia Tour – Day 3: Dara, Midyat, Hasankeyf, Malabadi, and Diyarbakır

After a chilly night in Mardin, we set out for Dara, a village in the Nusaybin district that hides one of Turkey’s most underrated ancient cities — Dara Ancient City. Described by locals as equally valuable as Ephesus in İzmir, this archaeological treasure leaves a lasting impression.

Dara Ancient City – A Forgotten Roman Frontier

Accompanied by our local guide, Mr. Mehmet, whose storytelling delights everyone, we begin our exploration. Dara was established as a military garrison city by Eastern Roman Emperor Anastasius I around 505 AD to protect the empire’s eastern border against the Sassanids. Known in antiquity as Anastasiopolis, the city spreads over 4 square kilometers and includes a citadel strategically perched on a 50-meter-high plateau at the intersection of the Mesopotamian plains and the Tur Abdin Mountains.

Dara is carved directly into limestone bedrock, showcasing Roman military ingenuity. Although its exact founding date is unknown, it served as a significant trade center in Mesopotamia for centuries and bore witness to battles between Persian King Darius and Alexander the Great.

Captured by the Persians in 363 AD, Dara became a frontier city of the Byzantine Empire and later changed hands several times — from the Umayyads to the Abbasids, and eventually the Ottomans in the 15th century. Its rich history and sprawling ruins make it a must-visit for history lovers in southeastern Turkey.

Dara Ancient City

Midyat – A Living Open-Air Museum

Our next stop is Midyat, often seen as a miniature version of Mardin. With its elegant stone houses, winding alleys, and ancient churches, Midyat has recently gained popularity thanks to several Turkish TV series filmed here. The most visited spot is the Midyat Guesthouse, which offers panoramic views over the town from its rooftop.

According to the 1973 Mardin Provincial Yearbook, Midyat was founded by Hittite Turks from Central Asia around 2000 BC as a cave city. Networks of tunnels beneath the town once connected the caves used for shelter.

Throughout its history, Midyat saw invasions by Macedonians, Persians, and Romans. The town began to take its current form during the Seleucid period around 180 BC. By the 5th century AD, Christianity was dominant until the Arab conquests began in the 6th century. During the Abbasid era, especially under Harun al-Rashid, villages flourished and development surged.

Midyat later became part of the Artuqid realm, serving as a strategic hub between Mardin, Hasankeyf, and Mosul. In 1535, the Ottomans took control, and by 1838, notable structures like the Kasım Pasha Mosque and military barracks were built.

Today, Midyat is also known for its silver craftsmanship and homemade Syriac wines — perfect souvenirs to take home.

Midyat

Malabadi Bridge – A Tale of Love in Stone

Next, we stop at the legendary Malabadi Bridge, located near Silvan in Diyarbakır province. Though geographically in Diyarbakır, it's closer to Batman city center.

The bridge, built in 1147 by Timurtaş bin İlgazi of the Artuqid dynasty, is famous not only for its architectural prowess — boasting the world’s widest stone arch span — but also for its tragic love story. Legend tells of a young man named Bad who fell in love with a girl across the river. She tried to swim across to reach him but was swept away and lost. The bridge was later built to unite what the river had separated.

Today, the Malabadi Bridge stands as a symbol of timeless love and medieval engineering.

Malabadi Bridge

Diyarbakır – The Spirit of a Fortress City

We make a brief stop in Diyarbakır, a city known for its massive black basalt walls and deep-rooted cultural heritage. Time is short, so we visit two iconic landmarks:

1. Diyarbakır Grand Mosque (Ulu Cami) – Originally the Martoma Church, it was converted into a mosque by Muslim Arabs after the conquest of Diyarbakır in 639. Rebuilt and expanded over centuries, it is considered the 5th holiest site in Islam. Its unique sundial, built by famous engineer Al-Jazari, is a marvel in itself.

   
   

2. Şeyh Mutahhar Mosque and the Four-Legged Minaret – Built in 1500 by Akkoyunlu ruler Kasım Bey, this mosque is best known for its four-legged minaret, the only one of its kind in Anatolia. Each leg symbolizes one of the four Sunni schools of Islamic thought. A local tradition says if you pass between the legs of the minaret seven times and make a wish, it will come true.

The minaret also became the site of tragedy in 2015, when Diyarbakır Bar Association President Tahir Elçi was fatally shot here during a press statement calling for the protection of cultural heritage.

Grand Mosque

Kahta – The Gateway to Mount Nemrut

We end this intense day in Kahta, Adıyaman, where we will spend the night. While most tours climb Mount Nemrut at sunrise the next day, bad weather prevents our visit this time. Nonetheless, Kahta is the ideal base for reaching Nemrut’s majestic stone heads when conditions allow.

The next day, we’ll visit the Atatürk Dam and Halfeti, before returning to where our journey began: Gaziantep. This marks the final leg of our Mesopotamia GAP Tour — a journey through history, myth, and breathtaking landscapes.