Siirt is a miniature projection of Turkey’s historic, cultural and commercial identity. It is a five thousand year old city that has seen the rise and fall of a number of legendary empires like Assyrian, Persian, Roman and Byzantine- the ripple effect of which is found in its culture and architecture. It is famous for its cuisines and hand-made blankets, and is strangely also known for its medicinal spring water (at Billoris Springs) that can heal rheumatism.
Central to the architecture of all ancient Turkish cities is the mention of their ornate mosques and shrines, and Siirt is no exception. Aydinlar (earlier known as Tillo) is a prominent part of the city where shrines or mausoleums of many religious leaders are situated, the chief of them being the shrine of Prophet Ibrahim Hakki. Another stunner here is the Ebul Vefa mosque that is more contemporary of the two and looks much a like an upright F-16 bomber.