As the region's commercial, cultural, and political center, Diyarbak?r and its ancient basalt walls command a bluff overlooking the Tigris River. Despite past skirmishes that led to an unsafe reputation, relative peace and economic development are finally having an effect and the city is starting to creep back onto tourist itineraries.
In the 1980s and ’90s, Diyarbak?r was forced to absorb a large number of villagers fleeing the fighting in the countryside between Kurdish militants and Turkish security forces. Many villages were compulsorily evacuated, and this huge influx of mostly poor villagers taxed the already poor city's infrastructure and social services and has left lasting social problems. In more recent years, though, the local municipality has embarked on several restoration and beautification projects, such as renovating historic homes and churches in the old city and opening them up to visitors, which is helping bring the city's charm closer to the surface.
Today visitors will find a fascinating city going through a cultural revival, with its 5½-km (3-mile) stretch of massive impregnable black-basalt walls that were added as a UNESCO World Heritage sight in 2015. The walls were built at the orders of Constantine the Great and today contain twisting alleyways, old stone homes, wonderful mosques and churches, and a lively bazaar. Be warned that the city can still look a bit rough around the edges, as poverty still abounds, with modern concrete houses (some might call them ugly), grubby backstreets, and pestering children. Locals are generally welcoming to visitors, but you may want to stick to the main streets and hire a guide to explore the old city in depth.
