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MARDIN
From
a distance, the golden stone of Mardin's houses blend
into the rock of the hills on which the city is built. On
closer inspection, the stone carving and decoration of
the houses and public buildings reveals the city as an
architectural treasure-chest. Among the jewels are the
ancient citadel and several mosques, in particular,
Ulu Mosque. The 15th century Kasim Pasa Medrese is
remarkable for its fine stonework. At the lovely Isa
Bey Medrese from the 14th century, you can admire the
magnificently carved portal and climb to its roof to
enjoy the fantastic view over the Mesopotamian Plain.
Only 7km east of Mardin is the Syriac-Jacobite
Monastery of Deyrulzaferan, which once was a thriving
religious community. Nearby at Kiziltepe, the 13th
century Ulu Mosque, one of the best examples of
Artukid architecture, has superb mihrab reliefs and a
beautiful portal. Midyat, famous for its silver
objects known as 'telkari', has many elegant, historic
houses. Eighteen kilometers east of town is the
actively functioning Syriac-Jacobite monastery,
Deyrelumur (San Gabriel) which dates from the
beginning of the fifth century. Batman is Turkey's
most important oil-producing center, and oil wells
pumping the precious fuel dot the surrounding area.
North of Batman, the Malabadi Bridge, built in 1147,
spans the Batman River. Undisturbed by time, peaceful
waters still reflect the widest single-arch bridge of
its day. |
