Şanlıurfa

The “City of Prophets”, home to the World Heritage site of Göbekli Tepe, which rewrote the history of human civilisation, plus Abraham's sacred fish pools and the beehive houses of Harran.

Şanlıurfa (Urfa for short) lies in southeastern Turkey near the Syrian border. Known in antiquity as Edessa, this ancient city of northern Mesopotamia is called the “City of Prophets”: legend says Abraham was born here, and Job is also said to have lived here. In recent years, Neolithic sites of the Taş Tepeler (“Stone Hills”) such as Göbekli Tepe and Karahan Tepe have astonished archaeologists, making it a destination for exploring the origins of human civilisation. The main sightseeing area is the old town centred on the sacred fish pools (Balıklıgöl), surrounded by the Cave of Abraham's Birth, the Rizvaniye Mosque, the citadel, the old bazaar and Gümrük Han; to the north, the Archaeology Museum and the Haleplibahçe Mosaic Museum share one complex. Beyond the city there are two classic routes: Göbekli Tepe, about 18 km northeast; and, about 45 km south, the beehive houses and ancient city of Harran, which can be extended to Han el Ba'rur caravanserai, Bazda Caves, the ancient city of Şuayb, Soğmatar and Karahan Tepe. The best seasons are Apr–May and Oct–Nov; in Jul–Aug daytime temperatures often exceed 40°C. Getting there: GAP Airport has flights to and from Istanbul and Ankara, and long-distance buses connect to Gaziantep and Mardin; public transport to sights outside the city is limited, so hire a car or join a tour. Allow 2–3 days. This is a conservative religious city, so dress appropriately when visiting mosques. In the evening, you can join a traditional “sıra gecesi” musical gathering and taste Urfa kebab and çiğ köfte.

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