Mardin Views © Flickr
Mardin is a metropolitan municipality in the Kurdish region of Turkey, and is the capital of Turkey’s Mardin Province. The city is well known for its architecture, ancient history and great weather.
Mardin is located in the southeast corner of Turkey, just north of the border with Syria, and just west of the border with Iraqi Kurdistan. Because of its proximity to these borders, Mardin is full of mixed cultures and religions including Kurds, Yezidis, Christians, Syrian and Turks.
Ancient History
Mardin was first settled around the 11th century BC, and was strategically located on top of a steep hill that overlooks a large valley, as well as the Tigris River. This strategic vantage point led to the naming of the city in Roman times as “Marida,” an Assyrian name meaning “fortress.”
Due to its strategic nature, the city was home to many religions and cultures over the centuries, including the Assyrians, Romans, Muslims, Mongols, Catholics, Armenians, and Chaldeans.
Mardin Recent History
The city was annexed by the Ottoman turks in the 16th century, and has remained under Turkish rule. Mardin was one of many sites affected by the Assyrian and Armenian genocides.
Mardin is full of historic landmarks, and the entire city has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are famous mosques, churches, and madrassas (places of study) throughout the city. It is also famous for its numerous minarets spiking out of the steep hill.
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