Diyarbakır is southeastern Turkey's cultural capital, anchored by some 6 km of UNESCO-listed black basalt city walls—among the longest and best-preserved in the world. Perched above the Tigris River, the ancient walled city (Sur) shelters mosques, Armenian churches, Kurdish cultural centres and bustling bazaars that have thrived here for more than 7,000 years. The city is famous throughout Turkey for its colossal watermelons, its layered Anatolian-Kurdish cuisine and the plaintive vocal tradition of dengbêj storytellers.
Diyarbakır, known in antiquity as Amida, has been continuously inhabited for at least 7,000 years, making it one of the oldest cities in the world. The site was first fortified by the Hurrian-Mitanni civilisation around 3000 BCE. The Assyrians, Urartians, Medes, Persians and Macedonians each controlled the city before Rome transformed it into a critical eastern frontier fortress. Byzantine Emperor Constantius II rebuilt the famous black basalt walls in 349 CE — the same walls that still encircle the Sur district today and earned UNESCO World Heritage status in 2015. The Arabs brought Islam in 639 CE; the Artuqids (1098–1232) and later the Seljuks and Safavids each left architectural legacies. The Ottoman Empire captured the city in 1515 and it remained under Ottoman rule until the Turkish Republic was founded in 1923. The 20th century saw significant political turbulence associated with the Kurdish question.
Historical timeline
Key moments that shaped Diyarbakır.
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1
First settlements on the Amida tell (Amida Höyüğü) above the Tigris River.
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2
Hurrian-Mitanni fortification of the strategic hill.
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3
Assyrian Empire controls the region; city known as 'Amed'.
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4
Seleucid rule following Alexander the Great's campaigns.
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5
Rome annexes the city during Pompey's eastern campaigns.
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6
Emperor Constantius II constructs the current black basalt city walls.
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7
Sasanian King Shapur II besieges and briefly captures Amida.
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8
Byzantine-Sasanian wars; city changes hands multiple times.
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9
Arab Islamic conquest; Islam introduced to the city.
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10
Marwanid Kurdish dynasty rules; period of cultural flourishing.
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11
Artuqid Turkmen dynasty; Grand Mosque (Ulu Camii) built.
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12
Ayyubid (Saladin's dynasty) rule; expansion of bazaars and caravanserais.
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13
Ottoman Sultan Selim I conquers the city; Four-Legged Minaret Mosque and Hasanpaşa Han built in this era.
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14
Turkish Republic founded; city formally renamed Diyarbakır.
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15
Diyarbakır Fortress and Hevsel Gardens inscribed on UNESCO World Heritage List.
Historical eras
The chapters of Diyarbakır's past.
Historical sites
Places where Diyarbakır's past comes alive.
Museums
Curated collections that tell Diyarbakır's story.
Diyarbakır Archaeological Museum
Hours: Tue–Sun 08:30–17:30
Admission: 50 TRY (~$1.30)
Cahit Sıtkı Tarancı Museum
Hours: Tue–Sun 08:30–17:30
Admission: 30 TRY (~$0.80)
Historical tours
Guided experiences that bring history to life.