Eastern Anatolian Highlands holidays

The Eastern Anatolian highlands contain three of Turkey’s greatest treasures: Mount Nemrut, Mardin, and Gaziantep. Built in the first century, the stone heads of King Antiochus with the accompanying Greek gods at Mount Nemrut are perhaps one of the most awe-inspiring sites in Turkey. With Mesopotamia as a backdrop, the terrace of carved heads is listed as a Unesco world heritage site.

Mardin is fast developing a reputation as an unmissable destination. With its unique terracestyle architecture and small winding alleys filled with bronze and silversmiths, the city has preserved its cultural identity.

Gaziantep, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities on earth, has a mosaic museum containing one of the largest collections of Roman mosaics in the world. Located close to these attractions is the city of Sanliurfa, with its sacred pool and cave of Abraham, and the village of Harran with its conicalshaped houses.

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Places to Visit

Gaziantep

Gaziantep is a large, ever expanding city located close to the Border of Syria. Originally known as Antep, the Gazi or "Hero city" was added after the Turkish war of Independence in the 1920s due to the resistance that was offered by the city. Considered to be one of the oldest continually inhabited communities in the world, it is now renowned for its local cuisine, which attracts international visitors due to the various different flavours, and seasonings which are offered. Most of the attractions are located in the old centre of the city such as the Archaeological and Ethnographic museums

Mardin

Fast becoming one of the most fashionable cities in Turkey, Mardin has a magical atmosphere, which will captivate even the most seasoned traveller. Located on the side of a mountain with the plains of Syria in the distance the small narrow streets are ideal for wandering and have not changed in style since the city was built in 4500 BC. One can watch the Syrian Orthodox gold and silver smiths in their workshops, enjoy a cup of Turkish tea in a teahouse or just visit one of the many mosques, which are dotted around the city. Any visitor to the city must explore the Sabanci museum of local history which explains how this melting pot of Arabs, Turks, Kurds, Jews, Armenians and Suriani, the Syrian Orthodox Christians, have contributed their own cultures to the history of Mardin