Harran, Turkey: Ancient City of Abraham

Centuries of wind and warriors have rounded the corners of Harrans' fortress. Here, 500 miles SE of Istanbul near the Syrian border it seems the people and their ways of life have changed little. Many locals live in conical mud brick dwellings and women don colorful scarves. According to the Bible, Abraham settled here on his way to the promised land in Canaan about 1900 BC, making Harran one of the oldest continuously inhabited places on earth. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.