This is not a village in Italy, but a village in Mardin

Mardin’in Midyat ilçesinde bulunan Kafro köyü, bölgedeki diğer köylerden oldukça farklı bir yapıya sahip.

The village of Midyat Kafro in Mardin, known as “Turkey's pizza village,” has a legendary story. Only 13 households live in the village, and there is no grocery store where you can buy water or a park where you can sit. There is only a pizza restaurant that rivals those of Italian chefs in taste. People flock to the area from neighboring provinces and countries to eat pizza.

Where do the delicious Italian pizzas in this village, where different cultures coexist, come from? Why aren't other businesses allowed in the settlement? And who lives in this pizza village?

This is not a village in Italy, but the village of Elbeğendi in Mardin Midyat...

Known among the people as the pizza village and officially named “Pizza Village” by its residents, the story of this small village is quite interesting. Only 13 households live in the village, and all of them are of Syrian origin.

Of course, this village was not always so small. Between 1970 and 1980, the local people lived in peace, but their lives became difficult due to terrorist pressure. The Syrians who were forced to leave their village due to terrorist incidents migrated to various parts of Europe during that period.
However, homesickness eventually overpowered them, and some of the migrants later decided to return to their homeland with their savings and the experience they had gained.

This is how the “Pizza Village” legend began...

Returning expatriates are demolishing old and abandoned houses and building villas to provide a comfortable living space. Of course, they are also taking the first step toward opening a restaurant where they can showcase the pizza they learned to make in Europe. Since then, the region has been flooded with visitors.

Since not all of the displaced villagers have returned, the village, which has a small population, doesn't even have a single grocery store. Moreover, there is no fertile land for agriculture in the area.

Their main purpose is to keep their homeland alive...

In the village, which is home to the Syriac community, there is a small church and Kafro's Pizzeria, a restaurant known for its amazing pizzas, where finding a seat is nearly impossible.