As temperatures in the historic southeastern Turkish city of Mardin climb above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), residents and visitors are turning to a centuries-old tradition for relief: sleeping on rooftop beds under the stars.
Mardin, known for its historic stone architecture and rich cultural heritage, has long embraced the practice during the hot summer months. Residents set up wooden platforms, known locally as “taht,” about 1 meter (3 feet) above the roof, where they gather in the evening to eat, drink tea or coffee and socialize.
As night falls and temperatures drop, mattresses are laid out on the platforms, allowing people to sleep outdoors in the cool night air.
The tradition is now making its way into some of Mardin’s hotels, which have begun offering guests the chance to experience rooftop dining and relaxation on traditional wooden platforms, often accompanied by panoramic views of the city.
Hotel operators say they hope eventually to expand the experience to include overnight rooftop stays.
Münip Mungan, who lives in Bolu but spends about five months a year in his hometown of Mardin, said he returns to the city in summer in part to sleep on the rooftop platform at his family’s historic home in the Savurkapı neighborhood.
“There is a wonderful breeze in Mardin at night,” Mungan told Anadolu Agency (AA). “I go to bed early and wake up early because there is so much fresh air. I can’t describe the pleasure of sleeping outside. You have to experience it to understand.”
Mungan said he has sometimes traveled 1,200 kilometers (746 miles) just to spend several nights sleeping on the roof before returning home.
“That’s how enjoyable it is,” he said.
The platform behind him is about 185 years old, he said. He also built a smaller one for himself.
“When I come alone, I sleep on the small one. When we come as a family, we use the large one,” Mungan said. “Every Mardin resident who lives outside the city misses this air very much.”
He said Mardin’s clear skies make the experience particularly special.
“You can count as many stars as you want,” he said. “Living up high, on the slopes of the castle, is a completely different pleasure.”
Esra Atmaca, a resident of Mardin’s Diyarbakır Kapı neighborhood, said summer nights in the city have a special charm.
During periods of intense heat, she said, families gather on their rooftops in the evening and sleep outside as the temperature falls.
“Sleeping on the rooftop is a tradition and a way of life passed down from the past,” Atmaca said. “We have lived this tradition since childhood. When evening comes, the mattresses are brought up to the roof, the family sits together and talks, and the cool night breeze between the stone houses helps us shake off the fatigue of the day.”
“In the morning, you wake up to Mardin’s unique view,” she added. “The best part of sleeping on the roof is experiencing Mardin’s nights in a completely different way. The silence of the stone houses, the gentle breeze and the sky full of stars make you feel the soul of the city.”
For 8-year-old Azra Olgaç, who traveled from Istanbul to visit Mardin, sleeping on the rooftop platform at her grandfather’s home is one of the highlights of her annual visits.
“We love sleeping on the roof under the stars,” Olgaç said. “We have so much fun on the roof. Sometimes I think, ‘I wish I could put the platform on an airplane and take it to Istanbul.’ I miss the rooftop so much.”
Seçkin Acar, president of the Mardin Hoteliers and Tourism Association (MOD), said the city’s distinctive culture is shaped not only by its historic architecture but also by traditions passed down through generations.
Spending time on rooftops is an important part of that culture, he said.
“While Mardin is very hot during the day, the evenings are just as cool,” Acar said. “As sunset approaches, people begin preparing to sit on the roofs and in the courtyards of their homes.”
Acar said the traditional platforms have historically served as outdoor living spaces where residents sit, chat, enjoy the evening and eventually sleep before waking early the next morning.
“In Old Mardin, we don’t need air conditioning,” he said.
Visitors have also expressed interest in experiencing the tradition, Acar said, with some guests asking whether they can sleep outside or stay on the traditional platforms.
Several hotels have begun installing old-style platforms on their rooftops, he said. For now, some are offering the experience primarily through rooftop meals and gatherings.
“We want to make it possible to sustain this tradition in hotels in the future,” Acar said. “Sleeping on the roof is a culture, a tradition. We want our guests to experience it in order to keep this tradition alive, and we are making preparations for that.”
Dilan Abatan, a visitor from the neighboring province of Diyarbakır, said her experience sleeping on a rooftop left a strong impression.
After seeing that people sleep on rooftops during Mardin’s hot summers, she said she wanted to experience it herself.
“The city has an incredible atmosphere,” Abatan said. “On one side is the Mesopotamian Plain, on the other is Mardin Castle, and above us are the stars. It really is a city straight out of a fairy tale.”
