Sanliurfa Travel Guide
Remarkable Pilgrimage town and ‘City Of Prophets’
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Continually inhabited for some 5,500 years Şanlıurfa is like many in Turkey an ancient city, however it’s its biblical associations rather than its ancient monuments that have built its reputation. The city’s proximity to the Syrian border lends it a Middle Eastern flavour and tradition tells that Abraham took to destroying pagan idols here. Visitors today can enjoy the Citadel, markets and backstreets together with the famous pool, the Gölbaşi, and the important Dergah complex which continues to draw pilgrims. Out of town lies the beehive-shaped village of Harran.
Visitors to Şanlıurfa will notice a distinct Middle Eastern feel to the town, perhaps because the border with Syria is just 53km away. This is an ancient town fought over like so many places in Turkey by numerous empires.
In antiquity Abraham, a prophet to both Christians and Muslims, confronted the Assyrian ruler King Nimrod here and was saved from death by God who protected him from being burnt on a pyre by turning the flames to waters and coals to fish.
Attractions in Sanliurfa
The Gölbaşi pool with its sacred carp today remind visitors of the story of Abraham and the whole area is lovely to wander through with its pools and rose gardens. Pilgrims come to Şanlıurfa to visit the Dergah mosque complex which houses not only the Mevlid-i-Halil Camii mosque but also the cave where Abraham is believed to have been born. Here a shrine has been built and it has become an important place of pilgrimage.
Visitors will want to visit the Citadel whose origins are thought to be Hellenistic, and the bazaar with its bedestan and the well-known Gümrük Han. The backsteets of Şanlıurfa are a network of traditional houses and well worth a look. Lying some 42km south of Şanlıurfa lies the ancient village of Harran with its beehive-shaped houses.
Relaxing
The Gölbaşi are an ideal place to relax after a hard day exploring in the heat of this southern city, whilst the city is well-endowed with restaurants selling local-specialities. As a religious city there is not much in the way of nightlife.
Getting Around
The city can easily be explored on foot whilst a dolmuş can be taken to and from Harran without problem.
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