Theme – Tourism Cartoon

Theme (2025):
“Şanlıurfa: A Century in Every Step, A Secret in Every Century”

Şanlıurfa, located in Türkiye’s Southeastern Anatolia Region, is a city where every step is history and every street a legend. Nestled in the heart of the southeast, this ancient city carries the layers of time upon itself, revealing a different face to its visitors in every era. Known as the City of Prophets, Urfa has been a center where faith, culture, and tolerance have intertwined for centuries. Walking around Balıklıgöl, believed to be the place where Prophet Abraham was thrown into the fire, you touch not only stones, but also legends, prayers, and hope.

But Urfa is not only about traces of the past; it is also a living, breathing mosaic of culture today. In its bazaars, you catch the scents of spices, leather, and copper; in its “sıra geceleri” you hear the melodies of the cümbüş and the heartfelt strains of the “hoyrat”; in its cuisine, you taste the fiery language of isot and the rich flavor of grilled liver. All these are different faces and countless moods of Urfa.

Rising in the shadow of Göbeklitepe, a temple that rewrote human history, this city is the cradle of both beginnings and eternities. Alongside Halfeti, the silent town submerged beneath the waters, and Harran, the city of wisdom and faith, Şanlıurfa is a place where every civilization has left a mark, and every mark holds a story. Past and future stand side by side here. Urfa is at once mystical and vibrant; silent, yet full of melodies. Every season offers a new color; every step, a new story.

That is why “Şanlıurfa: A Century in Every Step, A Secret in Every Century” is so fitting. And with every one of its faces, it makes you part of its own story.

Video Gallery:
https://www.sanliurfa.bel.tr/video-galeri

For more information:
https://www.sanliurfa.bel.tr/icerik/68/621/sanliurfa-kultur-ve-turizmi
https://www.sanliurfa.bel.tr/kategori/623/0/muzeler
https://www.sanliurfa.bel.tr/kategori/624/0/gezilecek-yerler
https://turkiyeturizmansiklopedisi.com/sanliurfa

Göbeklitepe: The Zero Point of History

Located 15 km northeast of Şanlıurfa, near the village of Örencik, Göbeklitepe was uncovered during excavations that began in 1995 under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Klaus Schmidt. Dated to around 9600 BC, this monumental temple complex is the oldest known place of worship and has upended all conventional understanding of human history. Its “T”-shaped pillars carved with animal reliefs show that belief systems existed even before agriculture had fully begun. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this sacred site sheds light not only on Şanlıurfa’s past but also on the collective memory of humanity.

More information:
https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1572/
https://turkiyeturizmansiklopedisi.com/gobeklitepe

Balıklıgöl: The Silent Witness of Faith

One of the most iconic places in Urfa, Balıklıgöl gained its sacred status from the belief that Prophet Abraham was thrown into a fire by King Nimrod, and by God’s command, the flames turned into water and the burning logs into fish. The carp living in the pool are considered holy and cannot be caught. Together with the Halil-ür Rahman Mosque, the Rızvaniye Mosque, and the cave believed to be the birthplace of Prophet Abraham, Balıklıgöl is of great significance for both the Islamic world and faith tourism. Visitors here find not only history, but also prayer, peace, and spirituality.

More information:
https://www.sanliurfa.bel.tr/lang/en/icerik/9/7/balikligol
https://turkiyeturizmansiklopedisi.com/balikligol

UNESCO City of Music – Şanlıurfa

“Sıra Gecesi” (or “Sıra Geceleri”), known locally as “sıra gezmek,” is a cultural gathering of voice, instrument, and conversation deeply associated with Şanlıurfa. It is a harmonious blend of music, camaraderie, and literature from start to finish. These nights are when the wise speak, apprentices listen and learn, and poetry meets melody. The most famous and beloved artist of the “sıra gecesi” tradition is Kazancı Bedih. The name “sıra” (meaning “turn” or “order”) comes from the tradition of holding these gatherings in each participant’s home in turn.

More information:
https://citiesofmusic.net/city/sanliurfa
https://www.musicurfa.com.tr/
https://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C4%B1ra_gecesi

Harran: The City of Knowledge and Faith

About 44 km southeast of Urfa, Harran is an ancient settlement influenced over the centuries by civilizations such as the Sumerians, Babylonians, Assyrians, and Umayyads. Rising in the middle of the Harran Plain, the city is distinguished by its unique beehive-shaped houses. One of the world’s first universities was established here, and scholars like Sabit ibn Kurra, who made significant contributions to Islamic science, were born in these lands. In pagan times, the city was also home to a temple dedicated to the Moon God Sin. Harran is like an open-air museum that carries the knowledge of the past into the present.

More information:
https://muze.gov.tr/muze-detay?DistId=MRK&SectionId=HAR01
https://turkiyeturizmansiklopedisi.com/harran

Halfeti: The Silent City Beneath the Waters

Old Halfeti, partially submerged beneath the waters of the Birecik Dam on the Euphrates River, is known as the “sunken city” with its stone houses, mosques, and minaret. Boat tours offer visitors the chance to see the remains of this submerged settlement. New Halfeti was relocated to higher ground, creating a new town. Halfeti’s unique natural beauty and tranquil atmosphere give visitors the feeling that time has stopped. Adding to its mystical charm are the rare black roses that grow only here. Halfeti is a place that combines a poignant past with breathtaking beauty.

More information:
https://goturkiye.com/halfeti
https://turkiyeturizmansiklopedisi.com/halfeti

Urfa Cuisine: A Table Where Flavor Meets Culture

The cuisine of Şanlıurfa is an Anatolian interpretation of ancient flavors from Mesopotamia. The first dish that comes to mind is “çiğ köfte,” but the local culinary repertoire also includes isot dolması (stuffed peppers with Urfa pepper), lebeniye soup, borani, “ağzı açık” pastry, tirit, poppy seed katmer, and especially grilled liver kebab. Spices are used generously, with Urfa’s isot pepper being the signature ingredient. In “sıra geceleri,” locals come together to share both music and these flavors. This cuisine is not just about food—it is a way of life.

More information:
https://www.sanliurfa.bel.tr/kategori/631/0/urfa-mutfagi

Şanlıurfa: A Living Legend

Şanlıurfa is one of the rare cities that combines history, nature, faith, and culture in every season and every corner. The prehistoric silence of Göbeklitepe, the sacredness of Balıklıgöl, the wisdom of Harran, the peace of Halfeti, and the richness of Urfa’s cuisine turn this city into a place not just to visit, but to feel.

Şanlıurfa: A Century in Every Step, A Secret in Every Century.
And this secret is waiting to make you part of its own story.

Click here to view the geographical location of Şanlıurfa on Google Maps.