Holiday in Diyarbakir

About Diyarbakir

Diyarbakir is the unofficial capital of the Kurdish Southeast of Turkey and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The metropolis on the upper reaches of the Tigris boasts over 7,000 years of history — Assyrians, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Seljuks, and Ottomans have all left their mark here. The city walls of Diyarbakir are the second-longest continuous fortification system in the world after the Great Wall of China: 5.8 km long, up to 12 meters high, with 82 watchtowers and 4 main gates. Since 2015, they have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with the Hevsel Gardens (a 700-hectare river plain on the Tigris). From the walls, there is a spectacular view over the green gardens by the Tigris and the endless plains of Mesopotamia. The Ulu Cami (Great Mosque) from the 11th century is one of the oldest mosques in Anatolia and was built on the foundations of an early Christian church, which in turn stood on a Roman temple — layers of history stacked upon each other. The old town called Sur within the walls is a labyrinth of narrow streets with historic mosques, caravanserais, Armenian churches, and traditional basalt houses. The Hevsel Gardens on the Tigris are a unique ecosystem that has been continuously farmed for 8,000 years — they still supply the city with vegetables and fruits and are considered the oldest urban gardens in the world. Diyarbakir is the culinary heart of Southeastern Anatolia: the cuisine combines Kurdish, Arab, and Turkish traditions. The watermelons from Diyarbakir are legendary — weighing up to 50 kg — and are celebrated at the annual watermelon festival.