From the Zero Point of History to Nemrut: Mesopotamia Tour

Karakuş Tumulus – Cendere Bridge – Arsemia 

After breakfast, we leave Diyarbakır and set out towards Adıyaman. Our first stop is the tumulus from the Kingdom of Commagene, where the royal women were buried. Here, we will receive information about the tumulus burial culture and the Kingdom of Commagene. Afterwards, we will visit the Cendere Bridge, which was constructed with stones from the Karakuş Tumulus. Commissioned by Emperor Septimus Severus, Cendere is one of the most magnificent bridges of ancient Anatolia and will offer great photo opportunities over the Kahta Stream, formerly known as the Cabinas River. We then continue our journey towards Arsemia. Along the way, we'll see historical remains such as the Devil's Bridge (Şeytan Köprüsü), Old Kahta, and New Castle (Yeni Kale). We will visit this monumental area where the tomb of King Mithridates of Commagene is also located. After touring the Handshake Relief, the Tomb Area, the Ceremony Tunnel, and the Upper Palace region, we will continue our ascent to Mount Nemrut. 

Mount Nemrut Sunset  

Mount Nemrut, included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List, fascinates with its statues and inscriptions belonging to the Kingdom of Commagene. The artifacts located at the summit, shedding light on history, still retain their mystery. After reaching the ancient Mount Nemrut, at the 2,150-meter-high peak, we will see the statues of Zeus, Oromasdes, Apollo, Mithras, Helios, Hermes, Heracles, Artagnes, Ares, Commagene, and Tyche on the eastern and western sides of Antiochos’s tomb, then proceed from the north terrace to the west terrace. The Hierothesion (Tumulus) between these two terraces is regarded as one of the most significant areas in the world of archaeology. On the west terrace, we will listen to our briefing, head to Adıyaman, and check in to our hotel. 

After having breakfast at the hotel in the morning, we set out for Şanlıurfa, known as the “City of Prophets.” 

Göbeklitepe 

Our first stop today is Göbeklitepe, near Örencik Village, considered the zero point of history and the world's oldest temple. Göbeklitepe, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List, is known as one of the earliest settlement centers with a history going back approximately 12,000 years. In this Paleolithic worship center, which dates back to 9600 BC and is regarded as the first human-made structure on the surface, we will see stone blocks engraved and sculpted in relief with the animals of that era. The mystery of these blocks, which weigh an average of 20 tons, has still not been fully unraveled. After this unique open-air museum visit, we will have lunch. 

Şanlıurfa City Tour 

After Göbeklitepe, we begin our tour of the holy city of Şanlıurfa with the Haleplibahçe Mosaics. These beautiful mosaics, dating back about 2,000 years, feature rare scenes such as the Amazon Princesses and the Achilles Mosaic. After seeing these, we head to Balıklıgöl. We visit the Mevlid-i Halil Mosque, Rızvaniye Mosque, Balıklı Lake, Ayn Zeliha Lake, Halil-ür Rahman Mosque, and the cave where Prophet Abraham was born. Afterwards, we proceed to the Grand Mosque (Ulu Cami), one of the most important structures in the city and religious history, with its own legendary story. This valuable building was initially constructed as a synagogue, later converted into a church, and finally became a mosque. We tour the mosque and see the tombs in its courtyard. From there, we walk to the Şanlıurfa Bazaar. We have the opportunity to visit the Coppersmiths’ Bazaar and Gümrük Han for all sorts of local gifts. After some free time here, we settle into our hotel and have some time to rest.

Sıra Night 

After a short rest at the hotel, we regroup for dinner and to experience “Sıra Night,” an essential part of Urfa’s vibrant evenings.

After breakfast, we head to Karahan Tepe, which has sparked great interest and curiosity in everyone following the latest excavations.

Karahan Tepe - Soğmatar Ruins - Şuayp City - Han-El Barur Caravanserai

We see the artifacts in the excavation area and take photos. Afterwards, we arrive at the Soğmatar Ruins. During our visits to Pognon Cave and Sacred Hill, we view the reliefs dedicated to the gods Shamash and Sin, as well as inscriptions in Syriac or Aramaic. We continue our tour, captivated by the magic of these mystical lands at the northern tip of the Fertile Crescent, whose history stretches back 2,500 years. Our second stop is the City of the Prophet Shuayb. The remains in the village date back to the Roman era. Jethro, father-in-law of Moses, who gave him his staff and adopted the monotheistic faith, became known by the name Shuayb. After our tour of the village, we visit the Han-El Barur Caravanserai. It is inscribed as having been built by Elhaç Hüsamettin Ali Bey Imat Bin İsa. This beautiful caravanserai, constructed in the first half of the 12th century, stands on the caravan route between Aleppo, Baghdad, and Urfa. The story of this beautiful caravanserai in southern Anatolia is equally fascinating.

Harran

After leaving Han-El Barur Caravanserai, we arrive at the last historical site of our tour, Harran. Known for its unique house architecture, Grand Mosque, and mound, Harran holds many mysteries. Our first visit is to the Harran Mound. This mound, whose name has remained nearly unchanged since 2000 BC, is the center of the Sabian faith—one of Anatolia's most mysterious beliefs. After our explanation at Harran Mound, we visit the Harran Grand Mosque. Thought to have been converted from the Temple of Sin to a mosque after the Muslim conquest of the city in 640, this building is also one of the first five Grand Mosques in the Islamic world. Reaching its architectural peak during the Ayyubid period, this valuable structure was abandoned to fate along with the city after it was destroyed during Timurid occupation. After our visit, we head to Şanlıurfa Airport. We return to Istanbul with Turkish Airlines flight TK2247 departing at 21:00, and say goodbye, looking forward to meeting again on another BUKLATUR tour.