Time moves to its own rhythm here in Mardin, and more and more tourists have started to discover its mystical charm. Part of the city's appeal is the fact that you can see traces of the civilizations which have called Mardin home over the centuries. The caravanserais and bazaars which have survived since the time of the Silk Road, traditional houses, old pavilions, castles, mosques, shrines, churches, monasteries and caves of the city will all help transport you back to an age gone by. And cooking in the city retains much of its traditional feel, with dishes using spices and other ingredients particular to the region. All this comes together to make Mardin the poetic southeastern Anatolian city it is.