Hotel Dedeman Diyarbakir

Centuries ago a city with black marble walls rose up at the crossroads of Anatolia and Mesopotamia. Throughout history this city has witnessed many civilizations and many wars. Today Diyarbakir maintains the significance it had many years ago by being the largest centre of trade, industry, culture and education in South-East Anatolia. The city's pivotal role in the South-East Anatolia Project (gap) is attracting considerable Turkish and foreign investors. The old city of Diyarbakir is surrounded by impressive black basalt walls, almost 6 kms long, dating from early Byzantine times - 330 to 500 ad. It is well worth exploring the length of the walls, with their four impressive gates - the Harput Kapisi to the north; the Mardin Kapisi to the south; the Yenikapi to the east and the Urfa Kapisi to the west - and some 72 bastions and towers. From the walls, you have an impressive view of the town below. The town of Diyarbakir has a foreign, oriental atmosphere with much of the architecture being of Arab rather than Ottoman style. The black and white stone banding is characteristic of many of the mosques. It is well worth visiting the Ulu Cami, which was built in 1091 and extensively restored in 1155. The Hasan Pasa Hani, was originally a caravanserai built in the 16th century to house travellers, and is now used as a bazaar, selling carpets and traditional Turkish wares.