Hasankeyf

Just a short drive from Midyat, Hasankeyf makes for a good day excursion. This small town has a magical setting, with stone houses on the banks of the Tigris River, lorded over by a cliff topped with the remains of an ancient citadel. A modern bridge is one of the few places to cross this section of the Tigris, and runs parallel to a now ruined bridge that was built in 1116 by the Artukid ruler Fahreddin Karaaslan, possibly incorporating parts of a Roman bridge. Above it is a magnificent minaret—all that remains of the Artukid Great Mosque, which collapsed into the waters. Come, explore, and have lunch at one of the many casual fish restaurants on the banks of the Tigris before returning to Midyat, Mardin, Diyarbak?r, or even Lake Van.