by jonturk
Firuz Bey Fountain Fountain placed on the wall of Eyyübi theology school contiguous to east of Ulu Mosque is built by Firuz Bey at the date of 1781. Only inscription dated to 1191 remained today from theology school. In the same place today seen one liwaned theology school, built on the place of Eyyübi's period theology school by Nakibzade Haci Ibrahim Efendi at the year of 1781.
Karakoyun Rivulet Karakoyun rivulets historical name was Deysan river. This rivulet spring from west of Urfa, by passing trough in side the city and combine with Cüllap river in Harran plain, today dried state. On the Karakoyun rivulet there are starting from west through east; Hizmali bridge, Millet bridge, Jünstinyen aqueduct, Samsat bridge (Eski (old) bridge), Haci Kamil bridge, Beg gate bridge (Kisas bridge) and Demir bridge can be found.
Karakoyun Aqueduct it is between the Millet bridge and Samsat bridge. It is estimated that bridge built by Byzantine Empire Jünstinyen at the year of 525.
Urfa Castle it is on the Mount Damlacık south of Halil - ür Rahman and Ayn-i Zeliha lakes at south west site of the city. it is east, west and south sides surrounded with deep defense moat engraved in rocks, north side is consist of precipitous rocks.
Museums
The museum contains a collection of items excavated from the sites of ancient Harran and Lidar, especially jewellery and pottery from the funerary tumuli on plains of the Euphrates. The gardens contain sculptures, and there are several mosaics depicting images of wild animals. There are artefacts from the Assyrian, Hittite and Babylonian periods, and remains from Kurban Hoyuk, an ancient settlement now submerged under the lake of Ataturk Dam. The ethnography section has intricate wooden doors from traditional Urfa houses, reliefs with Hittite inscriptions and statues from Christian churches.
Museum Tel: (0414) 313 15 88
Opening hours: 08.30 – 12.00 & 13.30 – 17.30, closed Mondays.
------------------------------
Traditional Urfa Houses
Urfa houses generally consist of two sections named haremlik (people call harem) and "oda" (room) selamlık (area preserved for males). Some times these two sections separated with wall and have two separate entrance giving appearance of two separate houses, in some examples they show plans like first entered to selamlık with one main door than a second door connects to harem from selamlık.
Haci Hafizlar House it is at Kara Meydan quarter. This house contiguous to south of post office, been two harem and selamlik sectioned, keeps most of the traditional Urfa ouse properties. This historical house built at the year of 1888, restored by Culture Ministry and converted to government fine arts gallery.
Sakibin Mansion this mansion built by Şair Sakip Efendi whom lived between the 1796 - 1876 years is placed in the Halepli Bahçe. Similar to Nedim Efendi Mansion it lies on large area with harem and selâmlik sections. It is restored by Şanli Urfa municipality at the year of 1985.
Küçük Haci Mustafa Hacikamiloglu Mansion (city visitor house): it is at Şanli Urfa city center, on Vali Fuat Caddesi (Büyükyol) the near of Balikligöl side, west of Selahattin Eyyubi Mosque. This historical Mansion built on the second half of 19th century (near the 1890 year). It has harem and selamlik sections. Famous Urfa stone used as construction material in mansion.
------------------------------
Hamams and Hans
There are eight hamams which date back to the Ottoman period: Cincikli, Vezir, Saban, Velibey, Eski Arasa, Serce and Sultan Hamami. Most are tucked away in the alleyways near the Kapali Carsi, and usually open to men in the morning and evenings, and women in the afternoons.
Urfa also contains some of the most beautiful examples of Ottoman hans, including Gumruk, Haci Kamil, Mencek, Topcu, Bican Aga, Millet and Barutcu Hans.
------------------------------
Bazaars
Sanliurfa's old trade centre consists of shopping areas and bazaars dating from the Ottoman period, most of which are concentrated around Gumruk Han and Hasan Pasa Cami, and have preserved many of their traditional features. Kapali Carsi, the covered market, is to the left of the caravanserai courtyard of Gumruk Hani. Kazaz Bazaar is the old bedestan, an ancient caravanserai selling carpets, second-hand kilims and silk headscarves.
------------------------------
Ornithology Areas
Kelaynak Birds Kelaynak birds their specie come to an extinction on earth and they only live in Birecik in Turkey, is the most interesting animal specie lives in Şanliurfa region. Kelaynak birds belongs to Ibidae lineage, their heads and necks are bold so they called with this name (it means bold aynak). Kelaynak birds other than Birecik live at Fas and Cezayir, in winters months they migrate to Ethiopia and Madagascar start to migrate from Birecik near the February middle . They make nest on rocky slopes, they back after laying egg period near the July middles. Every year Kelaynak festival assembled in Birecik.
