DIYARBAKIR

Diyarbakir has been inhabited since at least 8,000 BC when these lands were cultivated for wheat. Geneticists believe this area is the origin of modern wheat. The first major civilization here was Hurrian. Kingdoms rose and fell in the area including the Assyrians, Parthians, Persians, and others. In the 1st-Century, Diyarbakir became the center of Syriac Christianity. The Romans colonized the area and began construction on the still-standing city walls in 297 AD. They called the city Amida. The city's current name Diyarbakir means "The Realm of the Bakr". The city is famous for its Old City Walls, a UNESCO World Heritage site. These are some of the longest city walls in the world, second only to the Great Wall of China.

Famous Local Sites: Diyarbakir City Walls, Hasankeyf, Caravan Saray

Must Try Local Eats: Babagannush, Nuriye Tatlisi