Where is Dara Antik Kenti?

Dara Antik Kenti is in Artuklu, Mardin.

How long does it take to visit Dara Antik Kenti?

The suggested visit time for Dara Antik Kenti is about 45 minutes.

What else is there to see near Dara Antik Kenti?

toroti’s catalogue holds other destinations within 30 km of Dara Antik Kenti; the closest are Deyrulzafaran Manastiri, Firdevs Köşkü, Beyazsu.

Destination

Dara Antik Kenti

Dara Ancient City is located in the village of Oğuz, 30 kilometers southeast of Mardin. One of the most important settlements of Upper Mesopotamia, Dara was founded in 505 through the initiatives of Emperor Anastasius (491-518) as a military garrison city to protect the eastern border of the Eastern Roman Empire against the Sasanians. With the collapse of the Roman Empire, the city gradually lost its importance over time.

Artuklu, Mardin

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Highlights

History

Good for

Cultural routes

Suggested visit:45 minutes

Official Turkish Museums

The city, consisting of structures carved into the rock and spread over a wide area, was protected by a 4-kilometer wall. The inner castle was established on the flat top of a hill 50 meters high, to the north of the city.

Official Turkish Museums

At the archaeological site, the remains of a church, palace, bazaar, dungeon, arsenal, and water dam can still be seen. The giant cisterns located beneath the city were used both to meet water needs and for defensive purposes. In addition, cave houses dating back to the Late Roman period can be found around the village.

Official Turkish Museums

One of Dara’s most impressive and worth-seeing structures is the cemetery area. The rock tombs, created by carving the bedrock into deep and wide valleys, are located on the broad hills to the west of the city.

Official Turkish Museums

At the archaeological site, there are also Islamic period graves and a tomb thought to have been built in the 14-15th centuries.

Official Turkish Museums

Source: Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Mardin Promotional Booklet. Istanbul, 2012.

Places to Visit in Mardin Address: Dara Village, Artuklu Mardin

Last updated: 19 October 2026

Location and surroundings

Dara Antik Kenti sits within Artuklu, Mardin. The toroti catalogue holds 40 described stops across Mardin, 24 of them in Artuklu.

The nearest stop is Deyrulzafaran Manastiri, 19 km to the northwest. Another 6 catalogued points lie within a 30 km radius.

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Other places nearby

Deyrulzafaran Manastiri19 km to the northwest Firdevs Köşkü22 km to the northwest Beyazsu23 km to the east Mardin Müzesi23 km to the northwest Ceviz Çeşmesi23 km to the northwest Artuklu Kervansarayı23 km to the northwest

Frequently asked

What is Dara Antik Kenti?: Dara Ancient City is located in the village of Oğuz, 30 kilometers southeast of Mardin. One of the most important settlements of Upper Mesopotamia, Dara was founded in 505 through the initiatives of Emperor Anastasius (491-518) as a military garrison city to protect the eastern border of the Eastern Roman Empire against the Sasanians. With the collapse of the Roman Empire, the city gradually lost its importance over time.
Where is Dara Antik Kenti?: Dara Antik Kenti is in Artuklu, Mardin.
How long does it take to visit Dara Antik Kenti?: The suggested visit time for Dara Antik Kenti is about 45 minutes.
What else is there to see near Dara Antik Kenti?: toroti’s catalogue holds other destinations within 30 km of Dara Antik Kenti; the closest are Deyrulzafaran Manastiri, Firdevs Köşkü, Beyazsu.