Ankawa Christian Quarter and Vineyards
Visit Ankawa, Erbil's historic Christian suburb, a unique neighborhood known for its churches, wine shops, relaxed cafés, and warm Assyrian and Chaldean community spirit.
- 1
Mar Giwargis Church
Begin at Mar Giwargis (St. George) Church, the spiritual heart of Ankawa's Assyrian Christian community, with its distinctive bell tower and beautifully decorated interior sanctuary.
- 2
Ankawa Wine Shops
Browse Ankawa's wine shops, where locally produced Assyrian wines and imported bottles line the shelves — a legal and culturally significant feature of this Christian quarter.
- 3
St. Mary Chaldean Cathedral
Visit the impressive St. Mary Cathedral, one of the most significant Chaldean Catholic churches in Iraq, serving the large Christian community that has sought safety in Kurdistan.
- 4
Ankawa Café District
Relax at one of Ankawa's many outdoor cafés, where mixed crowds of Christians and Muslims share space in a famously relaxed atmosphere unlike anywhere else in Iraq.
- 5
Assyrian Heritage Center
Learn about the 5,000-year history of Assyrian civilization at this small cultural center, displaying ancient Assyrian scripts, artifacts, and the story of this resilient people.
- 6
Ankawa Central Square
Linger in Ankawa's central square, a lively meeting point where the neighborhood's welcoming spirit is most palpable in the evenings as families and friends gather outdoors.