Anatolian Trip Notes #4- Diyarbakir

Diyarbakir or Amida (its ancient name), has been the cradle of 26 different civilizations throughout its 5000 year history.  Our driver dropped us off at Asur Turizm, a local agency at Diyarbakir. We only had 5 hours to walk through the town but we were very lucky to have an amazing guide. If you ever go to Diyarbakir, I'd certainly recommend Dogan San/ Asur Turizm. He is an extraordinary guide, so passionate about Diyarbakir and his job as a professional tour guide.

Of course, 5 hours is not enough but we had a small taste of Diyarbakir. Close to the banks of the Tigris River (Dicle) the city is encircled with 6 km city walls, decorated with inscriptions and bas-reliefs. Mosques and churches represent different architectural styles. The third century Aramaic Church of the Virgin Mary (Meryemana Kilisesi), is still in use today. Ulu Cami is a masterpiece. The local handcrafts, specifically copper ware (by the way Diyarbakir means Land of Copper), is so alive. You should visit local shops and see masters engrave copper.

So sad, Diyarbakır has always been a focal point of the political conflict between  Turkey and the Kurdish separatists. Diyarbakir has so much to offer and such a beautiful city. When there is peace, tourism picks up quickly. 

Another memorable moment…Dengbêj is a Kurdish tradition of storytelling. Storytellers recite old stories and epics. In Diyarbakir, there is this public park  where you can stop by any time of the day to listen to Dengbejs. Even though I don’t understand a word, it gave me chills. This is a precious tradition and I hope they keep it alive.

Here is a video: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ChWcpdmxzs&t=174s&ab_channel=EmreY%C3%BCcelen%C5%9EanDersi

Colorful local fashion

Next: Urfa