The stone houses of an emptied Syriac village

History

Dereiçi, formerly Killit, in the district of Savur, was for centuries home to a Syriac population. With its cut-stone mansions, arcaded courtyards and churches, it preserves one of the most intact village fabrics in the region.

Why go

Most of the village emptied through migration in the second half of the 20th century; today only a few families live along the silent streets. That silence makes the refinement of the stonework more visible: the carving on door frames, the window arches and courtyard walls stand almost as they were.

Visiting notes

Small and quiet; one or two hours is enough. Respect residents' privacy and don't enter courtyards uninvited. To see the church you'll need to ask in the village for whoever holds the key.