Diyarbakır Sur Ici: A Historical Journey in One Day

The ancient Sur district of Diyarbakır is an ideal starting point for experiencing the city's deep history and cultural richness in just one day. On this route, starting from the Icikal and spreading to narrow streets, you will discover six important stops bearing traces of different faiths and periods within walking distance. Listen to the story of the city's basalt stone at every step.

Diyarbakır Archaeology Museum

We start the day with the Diyarbakır Archaeology Museum. Located in the Icikal in the Sur district, the museum has been bringing together thousands of artifacts from the Hittite, Assyrian, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman periods since 1934. The finds from excavations at this gateway to Mesopotamia show how ancient and rooted a past the region has. The stone works displayed in the museum garden are also worth seeing.

Saint George Church

Right next to the Archaeology Museum, Saint George Church is located within the Icikal Museum Complex. This approximately 1800-year-old structure stands out with its architecture thought to date from the Roman period. Diyarbakır's symbol, black basalt stone, shows itself here as well. The frescoes on the church walls depicting Biblical scenes make this important structure of Christian heritage even more special.

Hazreti Suleyman Mosque

Another important stop in the Inner Citadel is Hazreti Suleyman Mosque. Known as the place where the conquest of the city began during the time of Caliph Umar, this mosque is made of basalt stone. The fact that it hosts 27 companion tombs in its courtyard adds a strong spiritual atmosphere to the place. The structure, also known by different names such as Castle Mosque and Nasiriyya Mosque, sheds light on Diyarbakır's religious history.

Fatih Pasha Mosque (Lead Roof Mosque)

When we step out a bit from the Icikal, we reach the Fatih Pasha Mosque, built between 1516-1520. Known as Diyarbakır's first Ottoman structure, this mosque is also called the Lead Roof Mosque by locals because its domes are covered with lead. The central domed plan type is one of the pioneering examples in Anatolia. The mosque's mihrab and minbar also display fine examples of Ottoman tile art.

Surp Giragos Armenian Church

With a short walk from Fatih Pasha Mosque, we reach the Surp Giragos Armenian Church. One of Turkey's largest Armenian churches, this structure was built between 1515-1518. After the fire in 1880, the church was rebuilt and reopened to visitors in 2011 after restoration. Its five-section architecture, designed in honor of Jesus Christ and the four Gospel writers, makes this place special.

Seyh Mutahhar Mosque and Four-Legged Minaret

The last stop of the day is the Seyh Mutahhar Mosque and Four-Legged Minaret, one of Diyarbakır's most recognized symbols. This mosque, built in 1500 by Akkoyunlu Bey Kasim Bey, has a minaret that rests on four monolithic basalt stone columns. This architectural feature makes it the only example of its kind in Anatolia. The minaret is believed to represent the four Islamic schools of thought, and there is a tradition of circling it seven times. Located in the heart of the historic bazaar, this structure must be seen before bidding farewell to Diyarbakır.

Spending a day in Diyarbakır Sur Ici is enough to understand the city's multi-layered history and cultural richness. Since all these stops are within walking distance, wear comfortable shoes. During the day, you can take a coffee break at Hasan Pasha Inn or try local delicacies.

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