Photos: R Prazeres, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Dosseman, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo credits
Photos: R Prazeres, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Dosseman, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Mardin's Old City, stone houses above the plain
Your local guide
Şevket Demirtaş
View profile
Highlights
- Honey-coloured stone houses, terraced
- Carved windows tied to mason families
- A hillside city built to one pattern
- A view stretching over the plain
- Stonework explained up close
About this tour
This session climbs through Mardin's Old City from its stepped lanes to a viewpoint over the plain below. You see the terraced stone houses up close, a carved facade with details tied to specific mason families, and finally the wide plain stretching south. Together the stops explain why this hillside city looks the way it does.
I begin with a sound check at the base of the lanes, then we climb stop by stop while you ask questions about the stonework. I pause longer at the carved facade, since the details are easy to miss while walking past. Afterwards I send a short note on the names and symbols we discussed.
This suits anyone drawn to traditional stone architecture and its history. It also suits a traveller planning their own walk through the old city who wants the background first.
Included
- Live video walk with a local guide
- Questions to your guide all the way
- A short list of places to visit later
Not included
- Internet connection
- Travel to the city
Itinerary
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Welcome and sound check 6 min
The guide joins the video call, checks the picture and sound with you, and gives you a quick sense of Mardin before heading out.
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Stepped Stone Lanes 17 min
The camera follows narrow lanes stepping up the hillside between honey-coloured stone houses. I explain why the whole old city was built to this same terraced pattern.
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Carved House Facade 17 min
You see a house front with detailed stone carving around its windows. I point out symbols carved by masons whose families are still known in the city.
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Plain Viewpoint 17 min
From a quiet corner, the camera looks south over the Mesopotamian plain stretching toward the horizon. I explain how far you can see on a clear day.
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Your questions 11 min
Time to ask anything about Mardin: prices, safety, food, or whatever you are curious about.
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A short list to keep 5 min
Before you go, the guide sums up with a few things worth remembering: a dish to try: Kaburga dolması (stuffed lamb ribs) and Eski Mardin (Old City), worth a slower look.
Good to know
- A stable wifi or mobile connection makes the picture smoother than a shaky one.
- Any phone, tablet or laptop with a camera works. You watch, the guide does the walking.
- Times are shown in Istanbul time, so check the time where you are before you book.
- The session is not recorded, and recording it yourself is not allowed. Feel free to take your own notes.
- Ask questions any time, out loud or in the chat. The guide will pause to answer.
- Sessions run in small groups, up to 9 people, so there is room for everyone to ask something.
Questions about this tour
What will the session cover?
The guide walks through Mardin, showing you Stepped Stone Lanes and Carved House Facade live on camera, plus whatever else you would like to see.
What happens if my connection drops?
Rejoin with the same link within a few minutes and the guide will catch you up on anything you missed.
Can I ask the guide questions during the session, or is it a fixed script?
Anything, any time. Sessions leave room for your own questions throughout, not just at the end.
Do I need to know the history already?
No background needed. The guide explains everything as it comes up.
How it works
- You get one join link after booking.
- Join from any device: phone, tablet or laptop.
- We meet on Google Meet; the link comes with your booking. I walk Mardin's Old City live with my phone.
Times shown in Istanbul time (GMT+3)
Cancellation
Flexible
- Cancel up to 24 hours before the start: full refund.
- Cancel less than 24 hours before the start, or no-show: no refund.
- If the guide cancels or the date does not reach its minimum group: full refund.
- Cancel in My Account → Bookings; the refund is calculated from the start time in the tour's local time.
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Next: Wed 11 Nov · 9 seats left From 24,00 €
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