Midyat Old Town

The Late Antique and Medieval Churches and Monasteries of Tur Abdin in the Mardin Midyat Region have entered the UNESCO Tentative World Heritage Sites List. Located 70 km from Mardin, Midyat is ready to take you on a journey through history with its stone mansions, churches, monasteries, and bazaars adorned with medieval motifs. With roots tracing back to the Assyrians, Midyat is an important center for the Syriacs and is considered the heart of the Tur Abdin region, hosting the Syriac Metropolitan Bishopric. This town, where Muslims, Christians, and Ezidis live together in harmony, has become a symbol of peace and tolerance. One of Midyat's emblematic buildings, the Midyat Guest House (Midyat Konuk Evi), was also featured in several Turkish TV series. This three-story stone house, with its terrace overlooking Midyat, is definitely worth seeing. Midyat's historical bazaar continues to offer Telkari—intricate silver filigree made by Syriac artisans—Syriac wine, and printed Midyat works made of cotton fabric. Estel, a Muslim district added to Midyat later on, features narrow cobbled streets and old stone houses. The 200-year-old Grand Mosque (Ulu Cami), Estel Han, and Gelüşke Han, which offers local products, are must-see attractions.