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Historic madrassa · Mardin, Mardin
Kasımiye Medresesi
Former religious school with a courtyard, arcades and stonework, open to the landscape south of Mardin.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Kasımiye Medresesi
Kasımiye Medresesi is an old religious school in Mardin, with a courtyard, arcades and views toward the plain.
The architecture allows you to see the stonework and the organization of teaching spaces around a courtyard. Water and decorative elements contribute to the composition, while the building’s position relates to the landscape south of the city. The complex merits a visit in its own right, beyond the streets of the old core.
Allow time to view the courtyard from more than one side and understand the relationship between enclosed rooms and open areas. Arrival can be by vehicle, depending on your base and chosen walking route. Check which parts are accessible and avoid assuming entry to any visible room.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
From 45 minutes to an hour and a half.
Best time
Visit Kasımiye with enough daylight to compare courtyard, stone and plain; if combining it with Mardin’s built fabric, allow a break between the two walking stages.
How to get there
From Mardin’s old town, take local transport or a taxi to the city’s southwest sector, beside the madrassa.
Tip
Notice how the courtyard and the façade open out toward the plain landscape.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Kasımiye Medresesi
Was Kasımiye a school or a monastery?
It is an old madrassa, associated with religious education. Its courtyard and surrounding rooms show the organization of a training space, distinct from the Syriac monasteries in the region.
Why view Kasımiye’s courtyard from several sides?
Changing position reveals the relationship between arcades, water and enclosed spaces. The opening toward the plain also informs the reading of the architecture.
Is Kasımiye on the narrowest circuit of Mardin’s streets?
The complex is in the southwest sector, as a stop in its own right. Depending on your accommodation and willingness to tackle the slope, use transport to get there and allow time for the walk into the visitable interior.