Turkey to allocate 34 billion liras for cultural heritage restoration in earthquake zone
Total investment in the restoration and development of cultural heritage in Turkey's earthquake-affected provinces will reach 34 billion liras. Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy summarized the progress of the large-scale efforts and outlined the ministry's key objectives.
Gurban Gurbanzadeh3 min read
Turkey's Ministry of Culture and Tourism will allocate about 34 billion Turkish liras for the restoration, conservation, and development of cultural infrastructure in provinces affected by the devastating earthquakes. This was announced by the country's Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy during a meeting with journalists in Kahramanmaraş.
According to the head of the ministry, out of the total amount, the General Directorate of Cultural Assets and Museums is allocating 12.2 billion liras: 79 projects have already been completed, work is ongoing at 17 sites, and tender procedures are being launched for four new sites. Meanwhile, the General Directorate of Foundations is responsible for 678 registered monuments, 377 of which sustained varying degrees of damage. To date, 209 sites have been restored and reopened, another 58 are planned for completion by the end of this year, and the remaining 110 in the first half of 2027. The budget for this directorate is 22 billion liras, over 12 billion of which has already been utilized.
In Kahramanmaraş, restoration work covers the historical area around the Ulu Mosque, where 10 historic mansions have been selected in the first stage. For owners of private historic buildings, the ministry introduced a support program offering free project development (with grants up to 750,000 liras) and direct work subsidies of up to 5 million liras. The department received 1,297 design applications, and more than 300 property owners have already signed contracts for restoration work. In addition, the total area of libraries in the city after the completion of five new major facilities will increase nearly sixfold compared to the pre-earthquake period—from 5.2 thousand to 31.6 thousand square meters.
Ersoy also detailed the progress of the large-scale restoration of the Hagia Sophia Mosque in Istanbul, which is being carried out without suspending worship or tourist visits. Specialists are working on the main dome to eliminate leaks damaging internal mosaics and decor, as well as clearing and reinforcing underground galleries and tunnels that extend up to 9 kilometers. Major façade work is expected to be completed and most scaffolding removed by the end of 2027, after which safe underground sections may be opened for tours.
Among the ministry's other priorities is transitioning archaeological excavations to a year-round operation, increasing the number of domestic expeditions from 157 to 267, and expanding the 'Taş Tepeler' project in Şanlıurfa—which includes Göbeklitepe—to 20 Neolithic sites. The minister added that thanks to bilateral agreements with 14 states and the work of special anti-smuggling units, about 9,000 illegally exported cultural artifacts have been returned to Turkey.
The head of the ministry also shared plans for the expansion of the 'Türkiye Cultural Route Festival' (Türkiye Kültür Yolu Festivali). By 2027, the program is planned to expand to 32 cities, covering all 30 of the country's metropolitan areas as well as regions with special cultural status—Nevşehir and Çanakkale—ensuring access to events for 65% of Turkey's population.
Source: cnnturk.com
