Things to Do in Artuklu: 7 Places to Visit

Places to Visit in Artuklu

• 4 Historic
• 1 Religious
• 2 Cultural

1 🏛️ Historic

Mardin Castle

An impressive castle structure on a hill overlooking the district.

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2 🎭 Cultural

Mardin Stone Houses and Old Town

Houses built with dressed stone masonry, typical examples of Syriac and Arab architecture, together with the mosques and madrasas of Islamic architecture, form an open-air museum.

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i Photo: R Prazeres (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Source

3 🏛️ Historic

Zinciriye (Sultan İsa) Madrasa

Built in 1385 by Artuqid Sultan Melik Necmeddin İsa, the madrasa is one of the masterpieces of Artuqid architecture. It stands out for its stonework and geometric decoration.

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i Photo: Nedim Ardoğa (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Source

4 🏛️ Historic

Kasımiye Madrasa

Built in the 15th century during the Aq Qoyunlu period, the madrasa is one of the most impressive buildings in Mardin, with its two-storey courtyard and pool.

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i Photo: Nevit Dilmen (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Source

5 🕌 Religious

Deyrulzafaran Monastery

A Syriac Orthodox monastery founded in AD 493. From 1160 to 1932 it was the seat of the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate, and it still operates as an active monastery.

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6 🏛️ Historic

Artuklu Caravanserai

Built as a caravanserai in 1275, later used as a school, monopoly office and bakery, and today serving as a hotel.

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7 🎭 Cultural

Cut-stone houses

The traditional houses built of dressed stone that are a notable feature of the district.

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While you are in Artuklu, you can also see the highlights of Mardin province. These places are in other districts.

• Mardin Stone Houses — Historic houses with courtyards and arches, built of soft limestone Mardin stone, descending step by step from the foot of the castle towards the Mesopotamian plain; the city's skyline is on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List.
• Mardin Grand Mosque — A mosque built in the Artuqid period, whose ribbed dome is an example of Mardin architecture; its present minaret was built in 1888–1889 on a square base.
• Mor Gabriel Monastery — Founded in 397 on the Tur Abdin plateau near the village of Güngören in Midyat, this is the oldest surviving and still active Syriac Orthodox monastery in the world; it is famous for its mosaics and domed churches.
• Dara Ancient City — A Byzantine fortress city on the Sasanian frontier, 30 km south-east of Mardin; it was the scene of the Roman–Persian wars of 530–604. A rock-cut necropolis, huge water cisterns and the remains of the city walls can be visited.
• Midyat Mansions — Syriac and Muslim mansions with carved stone decoration in the old town of Midyat; visitors see the Midyat Guesthouse (Konuk Evi) and the telkâri workshops.
• Mor Yakup Church (Nusaybin) — A church from the 4th century in Nusaybin, thought to have been the baptistery of a cathedral that no longer exists.

Practical Information for Visiting Artuklu

Suggested time

2–3 days

Best time to visit

Spring and autumn months (April–June, September–November)

Places to visit

7 places

• 🍖

  Kaburga Dolması (stuffed lamb ribs)

  Lamb ribs are filled with a mixture of rice, almonds and spices, then baked in an oven. It is the best-known dish of Mardin.

• 🥟

  İçli Köfte (stuffed bulgur balls)

  A fine bulgur dough is filled with a mixture of minced meat, onion and spices, then either boiled or fried.

• 🥧

  Sembusek (Mardin pastry)

  A traditional Mardin pastry: thin dough filled with minced meat or cheese, folded into a triangle and fried.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Artuklu

• 🕌

  Multicultural Heritage

  Mardin has historically been a multicultural city where Muslim, Christian and Jewish communities lived side by side. Mosques, churches and monasteries stand next to each other.

• 🏛️

  Artuqid Heritage

  The district takes its name from the Artuqid principality, which ruled in Mardin between the 12th and 15th centuries. The Artuqids built important structures such as madrasas, mosques and caravanserais.

Local Products

• Mardin Sabunu (Mardin soap) — Mardin soap, made using traditional methods from olive oil and bıttım (terebinth) oil, is a natural skincare product.
• Mardin Stonework — Ornaments and architectural details made from Mardin's honey-coloured stone, which continue as a traditional craft.

Economy

Artuklu is the central district of Mardin. Tourism, trade and the service sector are the main economic activities. Cultural tourism is developing rapidly thanks to the historic fabric.

How to Get to Artuklu

Artuklu is part of Mardin city centre. Mardin Airport is 20 km away. There are air connections to Istanbul, Ankara and other major cities.

Get directions on Google Maps Getting to Mardin

Artuklu: Frequently Asked Questions

Continue Your Trip

• 🍽️ What to Eat in Artuklu Famous dishes and local products →
• 🗺️ Things to Do in Mardin The province's 12 best places and all its districts →

Other Districts of Mardin

• Dargeçit 3 places Dargeçit Castle, Tigris Valley Views and Mor Kuruyakos Church (Kerboran)
• Derik 7 places Derik Olive Groves, Derik Castle and Tepebağ (Telbisim) and Beşkavak (Hofi) Ruins
• Kızıltepe 5 places Kızıltepe Grand Mosque, Dunaysır Ancient City and Dunaysır Bridge
• Mazıdağı 3 places Dara Antik Kenti (Dara Ancient City), Dara Underground Cisterns and Safran Castle
• Midyat 6 places Midyat Stone Houses, Mor Gabriel Monastery and Konuk Evi (Guest House)
• Nusaybin 5 places Mor Yakup Monastery, Nusaybin Ancient City and Zeynelabidin Mosque Complex
• Ömerli 3 places Ömerli Mosque, Natural Areas around Ömerli and Mor Cercis (Gevergis) Church
• Savur 3 places Savur Castle, Savur Stone Houses and Historic Fabric of Savur Centre
• Yeşilli 2 places Yeşilli Mosque and Natural Areas around Yeşilli