Nineveh Province

Nineveh Province
It is the second largest province in Iraq in terms of population after Baghdad, it is about 465km away from the capital, it is famous in commercial business ,especially with Syria and Turkey people of Mosul speak Mosuli dialect which is similar to northern Syrian dialects ,so for this reason the Mosuli dialect plays a big role in preserving the identity of the city, most people of Mosul are Arabs Muslims ,it has different sects of Christians who belong to many churches and minority of Kurds, Turkmen and Shabaks ,the history of human settlement returns to stone age(6,000 BC),where people settled in the plain extending east of Mosul especially at the confluence of Al-Khawser and Tigris rivers ,due to the fertility of the area and the passage of commercial caravans through it. The largest dam was established Al Mosul dam .
,it has popular dishes like Dolma,Khozi,Al-Bacha,Al-Kuba, and Kebab.

The Archeological and Traditional Sites in the Province

Nimrud City
It is located close to City of Mosul the cradle of Assyrian civilization on the banks of Tigris about 30km south of Mosul it is a treasure of discoveries of archeological sites in Mosul in twentieth century the time of its foundation returns to the thirteenth century BC it was built by king Shilmisar the First , but it remained submerged until king Ashur Nasirpal the second chose it as a royal residence and a military capital for the Assyrian state, it witnessed many religions and cultures .The British archeology expert Austin Layard had discovered Nimrud city in the nineteenth century

Prophet Younis Hill
It is located inside the archeological city of Mosul and includes Asir Haddon palace and Sinhareeb palace which is considered the most valuable remaining architects of Nineveh ,and it has another name al-tawba Hill .

The wall of Mosul
It is a large wall surrounded Mosul city ,it was built by Saeed bin Abdumalik ‚who ruled Mosul in the time of his father Abdulmalik succession between 6489- AH and then it was expanded by Marwan bin Mohamed in the places where the city expanded and restored what was demolished in the beginning of the second century AH ,after that it was demolished by Caliph Haron Al-Rasheed in 180 AH ,the perimeter of the wall is about 12 km,it is rectangular,it is built with red bricks and has many towers made of stone and many Gates as well like Al-Imadi Jasaseen Maidan ,Kinda al-Sir ,Al-Iraq Likish ,Al-Kasabeen ‚al-Mashraa,Al-Jist;Al-Kalah .

Quwenjiq Hill
It is located under the Nineveh wall it is one of the most important archeological sites in Mosul, where many artifacts back to the historical period 7000 BC and 6000BC were discovered ,some of these pieces are in the British museum in London ,it is currently located in Al-Hay Al-Zirai in Mosul (agricultural district ) ,the hill extends from Prophet Younis square till the Al-Mohandessen area and then heads east till the crossroad of Sukar bridge and then towards south in Al-Muthana area and Al-Noor .

Al-Ramah Hill
It is located west of Mosul about 80 km away on mountain Sinjar with the archeological city of Karana, the place was full of people till the third millennium BC, nevertheless, the flourish of the place happened first in the second millennium BC.

Bashtabia Castle
It is an ancient castle located in the right side of Mosul on the left bank of Tigris, the time of its foundation returns to the second century AH.

The Museum of Mosul
It occupies the second place in term of importance after the Iraqi Museum in Baghdad, it was established in 1952 AD , with small hall ,but the new building of Mosul museum was built in 1972 AD, where it includes 4 halls ,one is for ancient antiquities and other for Assyrians antiquities while the third is for Hadrian remains and the last one is for Islamic antiquities, the winged bull is among the important antiquities in Mosul Museum ..

The Religious Sites in the Province

The Mosque of the Prophet Younis
It is one of the archeological and historic mosques in Iraq it is located on the western side of al-Tawba hill or Prophet Younis hill in Mosul,ISIS had exploded it on 24 July 2014, the mosque has a great place in the heart of people of Mosul.

Al-Katoon Mosque
It is one of archeological and historic mosques in Iraq it is located in Hosh Al-Kan area on the street of Mosul ,it was built by Mohammed Ameen Bek the son of Mohammed Basha Al-Gazi in 1241 AH ,its name related to the woman that takes care of it Marriam Katoon ,she died in 1262 AH .

Al-Nouri Mosque
It is one of historic mosques in Iraq, located in the right side of Mosul ,the area surrounding the mosque is called Al-Jami Al-Kabeer area it was built by Noor Al-Din Zinki in the sixth century AH ,that means its age is about nine centuries ,it is the second mosque that built in Mosul after Al-Omaoi Mosque it is famous of its Minaret that directs towards the east ,it is the only remaining part of the mosque ,it is always been mentioned that word Humpback comes with Mosul ,the minaret is one of prominent archeological architects in the city .

Al-Umayyad Mosque
Al-Ateeq Mosque or Al-Masfa Mosque it is a historical mosque in Mosul ‚built in the time of Omar Bin Al-Kattab Caliph by Arfaja Al-Bariqi close to Emirate house it is the first mosque built in Mosul in 22 AH, it was rebuilt again in the time of Marwan Bin Mohammed in Al-Umayyad era,it got this name of that era.

Churches in the province

Mar Matta Der( Monastery)
It is an ancient monastery lies on Al-Alfaf mountain north of Mosul city and considered one of the famous tourism landmarks in Iraq, built by syriane monk Mar Matta in the fourth century, it an holy place for Christians.

The Church of Martoma for Syriac orthodox
It is a syriac church, located in al-Saa area in Mosul ,it is one of the ancient churches in Mosul ,it was the residence of Syriac patriarchs .

St.Maskinta Church
located in the southwest of ancient Mosul ,which is surrounded by Ottoman walls ,in Christians neighbor of Shimon al- Safa, also called Mansouriya,about 400 km away from north Baghdad it is close to other churches (shamon and mar gorges )and the church of Martoma as well.

Al-Saa Church
It is a Catholic church, located in al-saa area in Mosul and one of the city landmarks,it was completely destroyed by SISI in 2016.

The Important Tourist Sites and in the Province

Mosul Forests
It is located in in the left side of Mosul ,it was called Al-Haadba model forest in 1954 ,on an area of 10 acres ,it produced tree seedlings till 1955 AD,it had been grown more than 200 acres on the eastern bank of Tigris ,the total area nowadays is about 900 acres,it has different types of trees.

Mosul Waterfalls
located in Shikan dis.to the north of city , 11 km away from east-north of Mosul, fed by natural springs, it is distinguished by its beauty and magic nature especially in Spring season its open shape and plantations give it a wonderful scene .