Turkey’s new & specialized museums!
While Turkey has always been reknown for its endless array of historical sites to visit, museum creation and curation had never been a speciality – until very recently! The new museums we will be mentioning are scattered across the country, promoting sustainable tourism in their surrounding regions & focusing on preservation and maybe most importantly – bringing the pieces back to their original locations!
We are sure that you are looking forward to visit all...
TROIA MUSEUM, ÇANAKKALE
Focus: Troia Antique City / Troas Region
Exhibiting historical riches from the nearby Troia Antique City, a site that has been inhabited for over 5000 years and has been made famous by Homer’s epic Iliad, Troia Museum was commissioned as an architectural competiton. The museums artefacts have been brought in from all over the world and is now proudly displayed in its original place.
URARTIAN MUSEUM, VAN
Focus: Urartian Culture & Riches
A lesser known ancient kingdom in the mountains of Van, ancestors of Armenians, Urartians have been a topic of historical curiosity for decades. Located on the commerce hotspots between East & West, these tradesmen had high culture yet left few sources. With only a few able to read their language, Urartians are now displayed in the renovated Van Museum by the shores of Lake Van and nearby Urartu Fortress.
LYCIAN CIVILIZATIONS MUSEUM, DEMRE ANTALYA
Focus: Lycian Civilizations
Located in the ancient city of Myra (current day Demre), incidentially where Santa Claus is from (St. Nicholas of Demre), this brand new museum highlights the Lycian Civilization – the leading high-culture of its time. Known as the Land of Lights, the first federated states in history – Lycian cities of Myra, Patara, Xanthos, Tilos, Olympos and others were devoted to freedom & democracy and were master sea-traders.
URFA ARCHAEOLOGY MUSEUM, ŞANLIURFA
Focus: Neolithic Fertile Crescent
A museum that takes days to finish is perhaps one of the most impressive in the world with its neolithic artefacts solely from the nearby lands. Artefacts from Gobeklitepe, worlds oldest temple dating back 12.000 years, first human sculpture known as Urfa Man are some of the highlights. Here guests will see everything from childrens toys to first tools used by the Neolithic peoples of Mesopotamia.
HATAY ARCHAEOLOGY MUSEUM, ANTAKYA
Focus: Roman Heritage of Antioche
Life in Antioche begins some 19.000 years ago (yes, not a typo…) and has been a prominent city for Alexanders Great Empire and Roman Empire – the Roman mosaic collection of the museum is the largest in the world. Home of the first church ever built, Antioche is where East met West, Christianity met the world.
UŞAK ARCHAEOLOGY MUSEUM, UŞAK
Focus: Lydian & Karun Treasures
Lydians who first found & used money (metal based coins) as means of exchange became an inevitably rich civilization. The riches of Lydia and most important the treasures of Karun (Lydian Hoards) which were twice stolen out of Turkey are now exhibited in this great museum with an ode to perhaps the beginning of modern financial systems.