“Upon the black stones lies a millennium of epics,
and by the Tigris flows the beating heart of the Kurds.”
City Introduction：
Diyarbakır, located in southeastern Türkiye, is the spiritual center of Kurdish culture and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the Middle East. With more than 9,000 years of uninterrupted civilization, it has witnessed the rise and fall of Assyrian, Roman, Byzantine, Arab, and Ottoman powers.
The city is famed for its dark basalt fortifications and is known as the “Black City (Kara Şehir)”. It has long served as a political, religious, and literary hub of Southeastern Anatolia. Poet Ahmed Arif once described it as “a city carved with fire and words.”
Top Attractions：
Stretching approximately 5.5 km, the walls were first built during the Roman era and later expanded by the Byzantines and Abbasids. They are the second-longest ancient defensive walls in the world, surpassed only by the Great Wall of China.
Constructed from dark basalt stone, the walls rise up to 10 meters, featuring 82 towers and 4 main gates. The towers bear Arabic inscriptions and ancient reliefs. Gates such as Dağ Kapı and Urfa Kapı each have their own legends.
According to folklore, on the night the walls were completed, the architect dreamed of a black serpent coiling over them—ever since, the walls have been regarded as protectors of the city against invaders.
Built in 1091, it is one of the oldest mosques in Türkiye, constructed on the site of the former Church of Saint Thomas. The mosque reflects Abbasid architectural style, made of alternating black and white basalt stones.
Its courtyard contains inscriptions, ritual fountains, and surrounding halls once used for religious teaching. Historically, it was considered one of the five great academic centers of the Islamic world, where scholars lectured on astronomy, medicine, and theology.
A 16th-century Ottoman caravanserai where merchants once rested along trade routes. Today, it serves as a lively bazaar and teahouse complex.
Two levels of stone arcades surround a central fountain, and visitors often enjoy Kurdish Menengiç coffee on the upper balcony, overlooking the movement of the old streets.Inside, you’ll find book stalls, Kurdish embroidery, and copper workshops—an ideal place to experience local daily culture.
A distinctive minaret supported by four separate stone pillars, built in the 16th century—an extremely rare structure in Islamic architecture.
Legend says that passing between the four pillars grants “inner peace and safe travels,” attracting visitors from afar who circle the minaret and make wishes.
One of the largest Armenian churches in Türkiye, originally built in the 19th century and now restored after decades of conflict.Its elegant spire, stone arches, and cross-shaped windows symbolize the enduring Armenian heritage of the region and stand as a testament to Diyarbakır’s multicultural past.
To the southeast, the city meets the historic Tigris River. Along its banks lie the ancient Hevsel Gardens, once the agricultural heartland supplying food and fruit to the city.Today, the gardens form part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site and are an excellent destination for hiking and photography—especially in spring, when the fields burst into bloom.
