Cultural Tourism Haberleri - Son Dakika Cultural Tourism Haber Güncel Gelişmeler

New routes will be determined for cultural and nature tourism

As part of the project to be implemented in the Çal district of Denizli, mapping studies will be carried out for new tourism routes, walking and cycling trails. Supported within the scope of the Technical Support Program of the South Aegean Development Agency (GEKA) in 2023, the project, in collaboration with Çal District Governorship, Çal Municipality, and Denizli Directorate of Culture and Tourism, will conduct mapping studies for Çal's new tourism routes, walking and cycling trails. Çal District Governor Mert Çanga, Mayor Fethi Akcan, Denizli Director of Culture and Tourism Turhan Veli Akyol, Deputy Director of Culture and Tourism of Denizli Province Hayrullah Akgün, Director of Çal Public Education Center Mehmet Denizli, and Expert Ahmet Benek from DETA Consulting gathered at Mayor Akcan's office to exchange views on the roadmap. During the meeting, it was emphasized that tourism routes and sustainable trails will be established in the Çal district, prominent tourism assets will be identified, and an original, qualified, and sustainable tourism destination will be created. In his statement, Mayor Fethi Akcan said, "In Çal, which has become one of the attraction points for cultural and nature tourism, more than 10,000 people visited our district in 2023 within the scope of the Vineyard Road Project. Our goal is to create a tourism destination with new tourism routes, walking trails, and cycling paths. The future of Çal lies in tourism.

Cappadocia spent the holiday at full capacity

The Cappadocia region was filled with foreign tourists from different countries of the world and domestic tourists coming to Nevşehir from different cities of Turkey for the holiday. Ayla Ahlat, who wants to spend her double holiday in Cappadocia, said, "I found Cappadocia very beautiful. It's a historical city. I was very happy to witness the cultures of the people who lived here for years and the footprints they left. On top of that, it was also a pleasure to celebrate the double holiday here.” Saying that Cappadocia is an impressive place, Zeynep Altıntel also said in her statement, “I always saw Cappadocia as a place to visit, as I saw it in photographs, catalogues and social media. I was undecided whether to come or not. But when I arrived, I thought everyone should come and see it. It has a very historical and fascinating structure. We came here to celebrate the holiday with my close friends." The target is 6 million visitors Nevşehir Governor İnci Sezer Becel, who said that Cappadocia tourism will break a record again this year and that they aim to reach the targeted 6 million visitors by the end of the year, said, “One of the most beautiful spots in the world is Cappadocia, the fantastic city of Cappadocia. Last year, it broke a record with 4 million 200 thousand guests. The first month of 2023 started well, but with the earthquakes, we started to have some concerns. However, we continue to break the previous year's records every month." "Cappadocia is one hundred percent full" Governor Becel said that the occupancy rate of the region has reached one hundred percent due to the mid-term break and Ramadan Feast. Governor Becel said, “Currently, we have reached 100% occupancy rates. We are taking firm steps towards our target. Our goal this year is to host 6 million tourists in our city. We welcome our visitors from all over the world here with the bed capacities and variety of activities we have here. This is now a destination with direct flights from Russia, Bulgaria and Spain. Our flights are 6 on weekdays and 7 on weekends. This shows the high level of preference and demand.”

Earthquake precaution in the world's largest mosaic museum

400 small artifacts in the Hatay Archeology Museum, which some of it were damaged in the earthquakes, were sent to the Kırşehir Museum for protection against aftershocks and about 150 historical artifacts weighing tons are preserved in the museum with the formula of in situ preservation. Debris removal works continue uninterruptedly in Hatay, which suffered the most damage in the Kahramanmaraş-centered earthquakes, and there is a concern for historical artifacts in the Hatay Archeology Museum, which was partially damaged in the earthquakes. Noting that the museum, which was built in 2014, is built on bored piles and that the majority of the works in the museum are intact, Hatay Archeology Museum Director Ayşe Ersoy said, “Our museum is one of the most important museums in the world with an area of 10 thousand square meters, and it is also the largest mosaic museum in the world. A total of 3,000 works were exhibited here, of which 1,500 were small works and the others were large ones. Hatay is a city famous for its mosaics. Mosaics of Antiocheia Ancient City, Seleukeia Pieria, Alexandretta Ancient City, other ancient cities, villas and baths of this region are exhibited in this museum. All of the floor mosaics brought after the excavations of the 1930s and 1938 and the museum's recent excavations are also exhibited here. Statue of King Suppiluliuma preserved in situ Stating that the statue of King Suppiluliuma, which the people of the region showed the most interest and wondered about its latest status after the earthquake, Ersoy said, “After the Great Hittite Kingdom collapsed, the Hittites came to Southeast Anatolia and established small empires and city kingdoms. In this region, the Unqi/Patina Kingdom was established. He is a king belonging to the Unqi/Patina Kingdom. The 1.5-ton and 1.5-meter-high King Suppiluliuma statue was protected in situ because it was too heavy to carry.” “150 artifacts were protected in situ against aftershocks” Stating that the same practice was applied to the Antakya Sarcophagus, Arsuz Steles and the gigantic immovable artifacts, Ersoy said, “All the artifacts on display here have been moved to the Kırşehir Museum. Heavy artifacts, which are difficult to transport, were wrapped with geotextiles and etaform, and then surrounded by a light material, pozzolana, which we call lava ash, and protected in a steel cage. About 150 artifacts in heavy tonnage in our museum were protected in situ against aftershocks.

Safranbolu, the city of cultural tourism, is hopeful for Ramadan

In the Safranbolu district of Karabük, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List and world-famous for its houses, tradesmen expect intense tourism activity during the Ramadan, which lasts for 9 days. Resembling an open-air museum with its cobbled streets, inns, baths, mosques, fountains, bridges and mansions from the Ottoman period, Safranbolu will take its guests on a journey through time during the Ramadan. Because it reflects the city life and culture of the Ottoman Empire, it is known with titles such as "Ottoman's fingerprint", "The capital of protection", "The city that protects itself". Due to the fact that the schools will be on break, there has been intense demand for the hotels in the historical district. Mutlu Çiğdem, who works as a business manager at a hotel, told the İhlas News Agency reporter that there is a high demand. Stating that Safranbolu sees the highest demand in April and May, Çiğdem said, "Reservations have started to be made, our hope is that it will be crowded this holiday. We cannot say that it is 100 percent full right now, but the demands are very good. Safranbolu is a preferred place for holidays since it is close to Ankara and Istanbul for 3-day holidays. Stating that the agencies that make groups in the Western Black Sea region at the weekend also have requests, Çiğdem said, "Their sales continue. As hoteliers, our expectation is that we will have a full holiday. Safranbolu is a preferred region for short-term holidays, especially in spring and autumn. Not only as Safranbolu, you can also stop by Abant on your way. Abant, Safranbolu and Amasra are a trio of pillars. We have Pınarbaşı Horma Canyon and Yenice forests added to our new program. The people who come are really impressed, it is very different and it has added color to our tourism." Hüseyin Özdemir, a locksmith who makes the door locks of historical mansions in the Historical Bazaar, also stated that they expect the Ramadan to be busy. Emphasizing that they do more work in Ramadan than in other months, Özdemir said: "I wish there were no empty places anywhere on the streets, so that everyone have a holiday. If the weather is nice, my expectations will be good. Those who know Safranbolu are coming back again. Anyone who has not heard should come and watch the ancestral heirloom. The more crowded the streets, the better for us. Our shopping will be better. While they are shopping, they can say, 'I went to Safranbolu, and I saw these there too' or, even if they are not needed at that time, they have the chance to come and buy them when needed. Just letting them see we have it, is enough."

The historical cathedral in Italy carries the traces of Latmos

Drawing attention with its natural landscape and historical texture, Latmos Mountains continues to increase its charm day by day. Traces of Latmos, which enters the route of many citizens every year with its many features, especially prehistoric rock paintings, were seen in the Siena Cathedral in the Tuscany region of Italy. In the ceiling decorations of the cathedral, which was built at the end of the 13th century and is on the World Heritage List, the love between the Goddess Selene and the Shepherd Endymion in Latmos and the mythological story that resulted in Endymion's eternal sleep are told. Drawing attention to the relationship between the cathedral and the Latmos Mountains, the Ecosystem Conservation and Nature Lovers Association (EKODOSD) President Bahattin Sürücü said, "These ornaments depict the most romantic love of the ancient era and are based on a mythological story about the love between the Goddess Selene and the Shepherd Endymion, which resulted in Endymion's eternal sleep. The story takes place in the Latmos Mountains." “This story takes place only in the Latmos Mountains” Stating that there are traces of Latmos in the cathedral, which is visited by millions of tourists every year, EKODOSD President Sürücü said, “The city of Siena is a city in the Tuscany region of Italy, known for its medieval historical and cultural artifacts, visited by millions of tourists. One of the most important buildings of the city is the Siena Cathedral, which was built in the Romanesque and Gothic style at the end of the 13th century. This cathedral in the city, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List, is famous for its frescoes and paintings. In this historical building, there are priceless works of Pisano, Donatello and Michelangelo, the chief architects of the Renaissance, and paintings by Pinturicchio. More than 1 million people visit this building, which is the symbol of Siena, every year. Inside one of the ceiling decorations of the cathedral is a very important mythological story concerning the Latmos Mountains. The sacred meaning attributed to the fascinating natural landscape of the Latmos Mountains is a unique cultural heritage item that also influenced later cultures. The cultural heritage of the Latmos region has directly or indirectly affected the artistic and literary works, beliefs and traditions of Anatolian and European cultures from the prehistoric period to the present. In this mythological story in the picture, the most romantic love of antiquity is told. The mythological story about the love between the Goddess Selene and the Shepherd Endymion, which resulted in Endymion's eternal sleep, takes place in the Latmos Mountains. The mythological love story between Endymion and Selene has been especially reflected in plastic arts since the Archaic Period. This Mythological story is most often depicted in Roman sarcophagi and the eternal sleep of the pensive young man was considered a symbol of immortality. The motif of Endymion falling into eternal sleep has also been continued in the art of the recent period. One of them is a scene from the ceiling painting of the Painter Pinturicchio, found in the 'Biblioteca Piccolimini' in Siena Cathedral. The scene seen in the Roman Period sarcophagus in this painting, is made in the form of a Renaissance painting. In the sarcophagus, Latmos is personified with the sleeping Endymion in the form of a man sitting on a rock above the cave, while the summit of the mountain forms the background for the encounter of the goddess and the young man. Here, the summit is depicted as a large stone as in medieval sources. This mythological story, which symbolizes the love between the handsome young shepherd Endymion and the Moon Goddess Selene, takes place only in the Beşparmak Mountains and cannot be found anywhere." “We must protect Latmos as a whole” Sürücü said, “Those who want to live this mythological legend today come to this magnificent geography to watch the lights reflecting on Bafa Lake as the full moon comes out from behind the Beşparmak Mountains and to experience that moment. There is the Endymion sanctuary at the entrance of the ancient city of Herakleia, which is intertwined with the village of Kapıkırı. Many finds were unearthed in the excavations carried out in the sanctuary last year under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Zeliha Gider Büyüközer. However, in the holistic geography of Latmos, where all these stories take place, the mining areas are being expanded and this causes an increase in the destructions. If the destructions continue at this rate, not only the mythological stories, but also the culture that has existed since the prehistoric period, the health of the local people, their income, the biological diversity of the region, wildlife, plants, trees, water, in short, the life in these lands will completely end. The destructions in this unique geography should be stopped as soon as possible, and new permits should not be given for mining activities. Projects should be developed to promote this mountain, which is an open-air museum, to the whole world, for the benefit of local people and our country, by ensuring the protection of the mountain as a whole."

Hattusa: The Ancient Capital of The Hittites

Hattusa, located in Türkiye’s Anatolian heartland province of Corum, is definitely worth visiting. The remnants of the Hittite Capital date back to the Bronze Age, around 2000 BC. The site was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1986. The Hittites were a remarkable civilization. The kingdom stretched from the Aegean across Anatolia, northern Syria and to the Euphrates river. Hattusa is a wonderful Turkish tale of endurance, mystery and deeply layered history. Discovered only in 1834, Hattusa, the capital city of the Hittite Empire, had long been believed a myth. As excavation continues, more and more is being uncovered about this ancient city, those who lived there and how they interacted. We know they were already crafting tools and were a mighty military power in the age of horses and chariots - what else will be discovered? Archaeologists are still working to uncover more about the Hittites and their capital. Thus far, excavations have found extensive royal archives of clay tablets, known collectively as the Bogazkoy Archive. The tablets feature official correspondence, contracts, legal codes, ceremonial procedures, prophecies, peace settlements and literature of the time. In addition to the extensive clay documentation, a variety of large sculptures were discovered in the ancient capital. Exploring the Site The site is renowned for signs of significant urbanisation, varied types of construction and the ornamental structures like the Lions Gate and the Royal Gate which must have been very grand and imposing indeed. The city was surrounded by a huge wall, 8 km in length, with older walls found throughout the city and walls dividing the city into distinct districts. The city was heavily fortified, with a double wall, over 100 towers and 5 gateways including 3 richly decorated: the Lions Gate, the Kings Gate and the Sphinx Gate. Some of the walls of the Upper City feature the longest known Hittite hieroglyphic inscription from the Hittite Empire. Grand Temple Elsewhere in the city are the ruins of temples, the best preserved of which is in the Lower City. The Grand Temple, dates back to the 13th Century BC and is the biggest Temple found in the city. Yazılıkaya North of the capital is the rock sanctuary of Yazılıkaya. An open-air temple with two natural chambers cut into the bedrock, the walls of which are covered with the richest and most striking samples of Hittite relief art, featuring gods and goddesses and the figures of the Great King Tudhaliya IV. Kayalı Boğaz Kayalı Bogaz, mentioned in cuneiform inscriptions (found in the Bogazkoy Archive), is a large fortified settlement. Due to its proximity to the capital, it is thought that Kayali Bogaz may have served as an outpost of the city in order to watch and control the roads to the city. İbikçam Forest The İbikcam Forest is a representation of one of the dense forests covering the mountains to the south of the capital in Hittite times. The People of Hattusa Evaluation of the site, its significance and its role in the region, suggests the population may have been around 50.000. With the inner city likely housing one third of the total population. Dwellings were built with timber and mud bricks and thus, have vanished from the site. Clues about the life and times of ordinary Hittites are chiefly found in the clay tablets of the Bogazkoy Archive. Hattusa is a fascinating example of a Bronze Age city and its people. To have endured for millennia as it has is a true testament to the might of the Hittites. Source: goturkiye.com

Kayseri's Cappadocia "SOĞANLI VALLEY"

Kayseri's Cappadocia "SOĞANLI VALLEY" With rock churches, fairy chimneys and rock-carved structures, the Soğanlı Valley in Yeşilhisar has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List together with Cappadocia since 1985. The Soğanlı Valley, which has many religious structures such as Santa Barbara (Tahtalı), Karabaş, Kubbeli and Yılanlı churches, is also known for the rag dolls made by the local people. With its churches and monasteries in the Yeşilhisar district of Kayseri, and interesting rock formations, Soğanlı Valley, an extension of Cappadocia, stands out as a rising value in tourism. In the east of the Cappadocia region, in the southwest of Kayseri city center, Soğanlı Valley is 10 kilometers from Yeşilhisar. There are deep tuff valleys, fairy chimneys and rock settlements inhabited by humanity in Soğanlı, where interesting landforms were formed as a result of the cooling of the lava erupting from the Erciyes Mountain and Hasan Mountain volcanoes millions of years ago. Nearly 200 churches, including Geyikli, Santa Barbara (Tahtalı), Domed, Saklı, Yılanlı, Karabaş, Tokatlı and Ballık, attract visitors from all over the world in the valley that starts from Akköy Dam Lake. Those who visit Soğanlı Valley are strongly recommended to visit Erdemli village. In Erdemli, which is 10 kilometers away from Yeşilhisar, the One-nave Archaic, St. Nicholas, Forty Martyr, Bear, Mikhael, Twelve Apostles, St. Eustathios and Saray churches and Haralam Monastery are places worth seeing. Kestelic rock settlements just south of Erdemli also offer safari experiences to photography enthusiasts. In the village of Güzelöz, 18 kilometers from Yeşilhisar, which is also within the borders of Soğanlı Valley, the rock churches of Haç, Mistikan, St. Basileus, Ortaköy, St. Georgios, Panagia, St. Stratilates, and St. Barbara constitute the visit stops that tourists should not miss. In the historical region where it started to take off, those who participate in balloon tours have the opportunity to watch the rock structures from the sky. There are three restaurants and two pensions at the entrance of Soğanlı Valley. Cloth dolls reflecting the local culture and souvenirs unique to Kayseri are sold in the ruins. Source: AKİB Actual Magazine

Safranbolu became the holiday choice of Americans in Turkey

While the Safranbolu district of Karabük, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List, hosted tourists from the Far East before the pandemic, the historical city has become a favorite of the USA and Europeans in recent years. The historical district of Safranbolu, which resembles an open-air museum with its inns, baths, mansions, fountains, mosques and bridges from the Ottoman period, is on its way to becoming a favorite of local and foreign tourists. Photo: Erkan Tabakoğlu The USA, Germany, France, Poland, Russia and Kuwait are at the top of the countries that visited Safranbolu, which was the city most preferred by Far Eastern tourists before the pandemic, in the first 10 months of 2022. Safranbolu Mayor Elif Köse, in a statement to the İhlas News Agency (İHA) reporter, said, “We went through a long pandemic process. Cities like us that earn their living from tourism have been adversely affected by this situation. One of the reasons why they were adversely affected was the arrival of tourists from the Far East to this region. The beginning of this pandemic started in the Far East, that is, in China. Naturally, the Far East tourists, who have the potential of this place, started not to come. However, our work was to ensure that European tourists, who especially value cities that are developed in terms of cultural tourism, come to our city rather than being dependent on tourists from only one country or region. Our work has always been in this direction,” he said. Photo: Erkan Tabakoğlu Pointing out that they have been working with the Safranbolu Tourism Operators Association for the last few years, Köse said, “Together, we organize trips to important tourism centers in Turkey that attract tourists from Europe. We are holding meetings with both the agencies in the tourism sector and local administrations on the direction we need to work. In our city, a tourism workshop was held together with the District Governor's Office. Our tradesmen from different business lines in the tourism sector participated here. With the cooperation with the university, a certain route was drawn regarding Safranbolu. At the same time, we started to work on increasing the quality of the service in the city by implementing the purple flag certificate program. This is a program that encourages our tradesmen and also informs them about the work they do.” Photo: Erkan Tabakoğlu Noting that the works are continuing, Köse stated that these efforts have started to pay off and said: “French tourists will start to arrive as of March. We started to host tourists from America and Russia. In the tourism season of 2023, we will begin to experience this heavily. This is good news for our city. Because the massive tourist arrivals and leaving nothing to the city was doing nothing but harming this city. When we say qualified, which we have been trying to explain from the beginning, we target tourists who have high purchasing power, understand cultural tourism, and do not go to the city for a day. Together with them, to increase the number of accommodation days and to provide more economic return to the city by selling high value-added products to tourists. I think we accomplished that. Our shopkeepers and Safranbolu will see the results of this more clearly in 2023.” Photos: Erkan Tabakoğlu

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