Ancient Turkish cities await holidaymakers

DIYARBAKIR, TURKEY - JANUARY 08: Turkey's southeastern cities of Diyarbakir and Mardin, home to ancient civilizations, offer a rich cultural and historical experience for travelers. Basking in its historical glory, Diyarbakir boasts more than 4.82 kilometers (three miles) of spectacular stone walls that were probably first erected around 2000 B.C. and are included on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Visitors can enjoy a breakfast featuring indigenous delicacies in the mystic atmosphere of Diyarbakir House and Suluklu Inn, then set out to explore the city starting with Mesudiye Madrasah, one of the first universities of Anatolia, followed by the museum house of Ziya Gokalp, a Turkish thinker, Ahmet Arif Literature Museum, Zinciriye Madrasah and the houses of Cemil Pasha, 16th century governor of Diyarbakir Iskender Pasha and poet Suleyman Nazif. Diyarbakir's Ulu Mosque, estimated to have been built in 938 A.D. and located in Sur district, is one of the city’s must-see attractions. Hazrat Suleyman Mosque, which once hosted dozens of Sahabah (companions of Prophet Muhammad), is another site that cannot be missed. St. George Church, which was built on 50,000 square kilometers (19,305 square miles) of land and dates back to the second century A.D., Artuqids Inn and the Ickale area, where Turkish Republic and Ottoman era architecture shines, are also among the places worth a visit. Ataturk Mansion, located in the south, is another place that comes to mind when someone mentions Diyarbakir. Lice district's Birkleyn Caves, where cuneiform texts from the Assyrian kingdom are still visible, are historical wonders of Diyarbakir along with their stalactites and stalagmites. The Hilar caves and Cayonu hill, some of the oldest known cave settlements of Anatolia, shed light on the history of civilization in addition to regional history.(Footage by Bestami Bodruk/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)