Ancient City of Dara

Dara was a garrison city built by the Eastern Roman Empire on the Sasanian frontier. Constructed in the sixth century under Emperor Anastasius I, it held some of the most advanced water engineering of its age.

The site includes a rock-cut necropolis, an enormous cistern, the remains of a dam and stretches of city wall. The multi-level tomb chambers show how the rock itself was treated as a building material.

Visiting notes: there is almost no shade. In summer go early or after mid-afternoon and take water. The ground is rocky, so wear closed shoes. About an hour from Midyat.