Diyarbakýr's single most conspicuous feature is its great circuit of basalt walls, probably dating from Roman times, although the present walls date from early Byzantine times (AD 330-500). At almost 6km in length these walls are said to be second in extent only to the Great Wall of China. They make a striking sight whether you're walking along the top or the bottom.

You can ascend the walls of the İç Kale to enjoy the fine views of the Tigris, flanked by a patchwork of market gardens, as it meanders 2km to 3km south to flow under the 11th-century On Gözlu Köprüsü (Ten-Eyed Bridge).


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Archaeology Museum

0.05 MILES

Diyarbakır's Archaeology Museum was closed at the time of writing, and scheduled to reopen in 2015 inside an old prison in İç Kale. Ask at the tourist…

2. Hazreti Süleyman Camii

0.05 MILES

This 12th-century mosque, beside the İç Kale, is particularly revered because it houses the tombs of heroes of past Islamic wars.

3. Surp Giragos Kilisesi

0.29 MILES

This Armenian church has been reopened after a wonderful restoration. Highlights include a superb wooden ceiling, and the church's cloisters showcase…

4. Esma Ocak Evi

0.29 MILES

The beautiful grey-and-white-striped Esma Ocak Evi was built in 1899 by the Armenian Şakarer family and restored in 1996 by the female writer, Esma Ocak…

5. Nebi Camii

0.31 MILES

At the main intersection of Gazi and İzzet Paşa/İnönü Caddesis, is Nebi Camii, featuring a detached minaret sporting a stunning combination of black-and…

6. Keldani Kilisesi

0.35 MILES

The population of Diyarbakır once included many Christians, mainly Armenians and Chaldeans, but most of them were pushed out or perished during the…

7. Şeyh Mutahhar Camii

0.39 MILES

The Şeyh Mutahhar Camii is famous for its minaret, but its engineering is even more interesting – the tower stands on four slender pillars about 2m high,…

8. Ulu Cami

0.44 MILES

Diyarbakır's most impressive mosque is the Ulu Cami, built in 1091 by a Seljuk sultan. Incorporating elements from an earlier Byzantine church on the site…