MESOPOTAMIAN CIVILAZITIONS TOUR 4 NIGHT 5 DAY

1 - 15 pax

From €625.00 / person

MESOPOTAMIAN CIVILAZITIONS TOUR 4 NIGHT 5 DAY

Capacity

1 - 15 pax

Day 1

1.DAY

We meet our guide at Antalya airport at 05.00 am for our early morning flight to Diyarbakir. When we land at Diyarbakir airport, our transfer vehicle will meet us and we will set off for the city tour. After our breakfast break in the city center, we will take you to the historical center of Diyarbakır, surrounded by high walls made of black stone. The current state of the Diyarbakır walls, one of the oldest walls in the world with a length of 5.5 kilometers, was built by Roman Emperor II in 349. It was built by Constantinious. For this reason, it is also known as the "Black Castle". You will visit the historical Mosque-i Şeridi, Caravanserai, Diyarbakır Museum and Castle, which was built on the foundation of a church using parts of old temples in the 11th century. Diyarbakır Castle or Diyarbakır walls, which was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2015, consists of two parts: the inner castle and the outer castle. The walls of Diyarbakır, which are approximately nine thousand years old, appear as the longest and widest defensive wall in the world after the Great Wall of China. One of the most interesting places in Diyarbakır is the Virgin Mary Church, also called the Mor Yakup Church, located in the Sur District. It is believed that the Virgin Mary Church, which belongs to the Orthodox Assyrians, was built in the 3rd century. The church has a door dating back to the late Roman period and decorations on the altar from the Byzantine Period. There are tombs of some saints in the Virgin Mary Church, which consists of two courtyards. After having a late lunch, we set out towards Midyat. (173-km) Dinner at the hotel in Midyat. After the meal, we take a night walk to Midyat city center with those who wish and visit the silver embroidery and Assyrian wine shopping places.

Day 2

2.DAY

After breakfast at the hotel, we start our Midyat city tour by visiting Midyat's Old City at 08:30. Its population until recently consisted mainly of Christians. There are five churches and one monastery. Midyat Guest House is a magnificent architectural structure built with local stonemasonry. Nowadays, it is frequently used in the shooting of Turkish television series. Midyat is famous for its viticulture and winemaking traditions. You will have the opportunity to visit local wine shops and participate in a tasting session. Our next stop is Nusaybin (32 km), where we will see the Church of St. Jacob of Nisibis. The church, built between 313-320, bears the characteristics of Late Roman architecture. The church is on the UNESCO World Heritage list. After lunch, we go to Mor Evgin Monastery (30 km). It was founded in 340 or 363 and is considered one of the oldest Christian monasteries in the world. Mor Evgin Monastery consists of both caves and buildings. The ruins of the ancient city of Marin (Merdis), 3 km away from the monastery, have been known since the Neo-Assyrian Empire. Departure to Dara (35 km). Dara Ancient City, located in Oğuz Village, 30 kilometers southeast of Mardin, is shown as one of the most important settlements of Upper Mesopotamia in history. Dara was founded in 505 with the initiatives of Emperor Anastasius as a military garrison city in order to protect the eastern border of the Eastern Roman Empire against the Sassanids. It is thought that the ancient city, consisting of structures carved into rocks, took its name from the Persian King Darius. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that it existed for only 200 years and retained certain features specific to the early Byzantine Empire. After visiting Dara, we head towards Mardin. (30-km) Dinner at the hotel. After dinner, walk to Mardin city center with those who wish and return to the hotel. In the evening, we visit shopping places where we can buy folding art, Mardin special roasted chickpea and colorful almond candies.

Day 3

3.DAY

After breakfast, we check out of the hotel at 09:00 and walk to the city center, where our transfer vehicle will be waiting for us, for a city tour of old Mardin. There are historical buildings in the city that are protected and accepted as cultural heritage by international organizations. In parallel with different religious beliefs, Mardin hosts mosques, mausoleums, churches, monasteries and similar religious works that have historical artistic value. Mardin is one of the few cities in the world that still preserves its historical appearance. The local architectural style was formed during the Artuqid dynasty in the XI-XV centuries. Mardin developed and prospered thanks to its unique location at the intersection of ancient trade routes. It was an important trading center on the Great Silk Road. Religious, cultural and linguistic diversity continues to this day. During the sightseeing tour, you will see the old Governors' Palace, the historical post office, the traditional bazaar and many old mansions built in the unique local architectural style. Next will be the Ulu and Latifiye mosques, the Kırklar Syriac Orthodox Church and the city museum, which was the residence of the Patriarch in the past. An incredible view of the old city and the Mesopotamian plains opens from Zinciriye Madrasa, located at the foot of Mardin Castle. Lunch break after the city tour. You will also have the opportunity to try the traditional Arabic coffee called Mırra. Our next stop is 6 km southeast of Mardin. We will visit Kasımiye Madrasa and Deyrulzafaran Monastery. The monastery was built in 493 for Syriac Orthodox (Assyrian) Christians and is still actively used today. Here, worship is performed in Aramaic, which is believed to have been preached by Jesus Christ himself. After our visit to Mardin, we set out for Şanlıurfa for an overnight stay. (195-km) Dinner at the hotel. After dinner, we visit Balıklıgöl, which is very close to our hotel, on foot with those who wish. We take a walk to Balıklı Lake (a sacred lake mentioned in the Bible and thousands of sacred carp fish) in the center of Şanlıurfa. During the walk, Hz. We also see Abraham's cave and Mevlid-i Halil Mosque.

Day 4

4.DAY

After having breakfast at the hotel, we check out and meet your guide at the hotel lobby at 09:00 to visit the historical part of Şanlıurfa. Urfa is considered one of the oldest cities in the world. The ancient Greeks and Romans called this place Edessa. The city is known as one of the oldest centers of Christianity. We are setting out to visit Göbekli Tepe. It is an archaeological site from the New Stone Age located in the Turkish part of Upper Mesopotamia. The settlement was occupied during the Pre-Pottery Neolithic period, from approximately 9500 BC to at least 8000 BC. Göbeklitepe is the oldest known historical structure in the world so far. It is also referred to as the "zero point of history" in some popular sources. The work consists of a series of large circular structures with stone columns, which are the oldest known megaliths in the world. Even the famous Egyptian Pyramids and Stonehenge were built approximately 6000 years later. Göbekli Tepe was finally opened to visitors in 2018. It is also on the UNESCO World Heritage List. After lunch, we travel 60 km to Harran, the most important ancient city of Upper Mesopotamia, mentioned many times in the Bible. Harran was founded as a trading colony between the 25th and 20th centuries BC, probably by Sumerian merchants from Ur. During its early history, Harran quickly became an important Mesopotamian cultural, commercial and religious centre. Thanks to its relationship with Sin, the moon god, Harran became a religiously and politically influential city, not only with its historical sites but also with its historical sites. It is also famous for its traditional adobe "beehive" houses that stay cool even in the hot summer months. In the construction of Harran Kümbet Houses, the overlay technique was used on a square or nearly square prismatic foundation. Each of the domes above the houses consists of 500 bricks. Materials such as rose oil, terracotta and egg white used in the mortar keep the structures intact while also providing insulation suitable for the region's climate. After our visit to Harran, we set out for Gaziantep. (194-km) Dinner at the hotel. After dinner, those who want to go to the city center, the historical center of Gaziantep; Here you will wander the narrow streets surrounded by old Antep houses made of stone and wood and have an exciting time buying local souvenirs, antique and modern copper, leather and silk works of art in the Eastern Bazaar. We take a coffee break at Tahmis Coffeehouse, the symbol of Gaziantep. Founded around 1635, it is one of the oldest coffeehouses in the world with authentic interiors. Here you will enjoy a coffee prepared according to old oriental recipes, satisfying even the most discerning palate.

Day 5

5.DAY

After breakfast at the hotel, we check out and head towards our first stop, the Zeugma Mosaic Museum, the largest and most famous mosaic museum in the world. The museum hosts approximately 1700 m2 of ancient mosaics from the Hellenistic period and the Roman Empire. Our second stop is Gaziantep Archeology Museum. Portable cultural assets of Gaziantep and its surroundings have been presented to visitors for approximately 42 years, with display cases changing from time to time. Gaziantep Archeology Museum has an exhibition area of 3500 m2. 1752 works related to the chronology of Gaziantep Province and its surroundings are exhibited. After our lunch break in the city center, we head towards Gaziantep airport for our flight to Antalya. We hope you enjoyed this special tour we have programmed for you. We wish everyone a good day, see you on our next tour.

Day 6

Starting from

€625.00 / person

Select Passengers

Adult €625.00

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