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.
Walk this route with audio
Stories play automatically as you reach each stop — no tapping needed.
