Day 1 Istanbul (IST) - Mardin / March 14
We will meet our valued guests at Istanbul Airport at 06:00. After baggage and ticket procedures, we will depart for Mardin at 08:20 on flight TK 2674. The planned arrival time is 10:20. Upon arrival, we will begin our Mardin tour with a visit to the Deyrulzafaran Monastery. After the monastery, we will reach the Kasimiye Madrasa. Construction of the madrasa, which began during the reign of Sultan Isa after the Zinciriye Madrasa, was left unfinished due to the tense political relations between Timur and the Akkoyunlu. The madrasa was completed by the Akkoyunlu in 1502 and named after Kasım, the son of Cihangir. After lunch at a local restaurant, we will visit the Şehidiye Madrasa, the Mardin Museum, and the Sabancı Museum. Our dinner will be at Cercis Murat Mansion, featuring traditional Mardin cuisine. Our overnight stay will be at the İzala Hotel.
Day 2: Mardin - Anıtlı - Midyat / March 15
After breakfast at the hotel, our first stop is the historic Anıtlı Village, formerly known as "Hah," in Midyat. In Anıtlı, we visit the 2000-year-old Church of the Virgin Mary. After having the opportunity to shop at Midyat's famous silversmiths, we begin our tour of the Midyat Guesthouse, where the TV series "Sıla" was filmed. The stonework of the three-story mansion is truly captivating. But the real beauty will unfold when you go up to the terrace. You won't be able to get enough of the panoramic view of Midyat. After lunch at a local restaurant, we visit the Mor Gabriel Monastery, one of the oldest monasteries in the world. The foundations of the monastery were laid in 397 by Mor Samuel of Savur and Mor Şemun of Kartmin. It served as a Metropolitan Center in 615 and 1049. During the reign of King Arcadius (395-408), Mor Şemun built dwellings and prayer areas within the monastery. During the reign of King Theodosius II (408-450), the following structures were built: the monumental house where sarcophagi would be placed, the Church of the Virgin Mary, the Church of the Apostles, the Church of the Forty Martyrs, the Sanctuary of Mor Samuel, the Dome of Theodora (due to the healing of the king's daughter Theodora by Mor Samuel), and the Sanctuary of Mor Shalemun. After our tour of Midyat, we return to Mardin. Our dinner will be at Bağdadi Restaurant.
Day 3: Mardin - Istanbul / March 16
After breakfast at the hotel, we continue our tour of Mardin. First, we arrive at the ancient city of Dara. This ancient city, where excavations are ongoing, is called the "New Ephesus." The construction of Dara is similar to Petra in Jordan. The structure was built by carving out monolithic rocks. Next, we visit the church dedicated to Mor Behnam and his sister Saro, now known as the Church of the Forty Martyrs, whose name comes from early Christian legends and dates back to the mid-6th century. After a photo break, we stroll through the arched streets of Mardin, showcasing the beauty and importance of stonework, and take photographs. We pause our historical and architectural journey to begin our culinary adventure. We have lunch at a local restaurant, enjoying the famous Mardin Kebab with walnuts. After lunch, we visit the Grand Mosque and then venture back into the streets. After exploring together for a while, you will have free time for shopping. After meeting up, we depart for Mardin Airport. After our arrival and check-in process, we will depart for Istanbul Airport on flight TK2679 at 20:10.
The scheduled landing time is 22:25.
