Denizli Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Osman Zolan stated that a budget of 1 billion lira was allocated for the excavations in the Ancient City of Hierapolis, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List, with the Hierapolis Heritage to the Future project, and gave the good news that the excavations will spread over 12 months.
Great support for the promotion of Denizli
Mayor of Denizli Metropolitan Municipality, Osman Zolan, shared the details of the Hierapolis project, Heritage to the Future, which he introduced in the Ancient City of Hierapolis, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List, following the instructions of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the approval of the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mehmet Ersoy. Giving the good news that a budget of 1 billion liras has been allocated for the excavations in the Ancient City of Hierapolis and that the excavations will be spread over 12 months, Mayor Zolan said that this support will contribute greatly to the unearthing of Denizli's values. Reminding that Hierapolis, which is the most visited archaeological site in Turkey, has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1988, Mayor Osman Zolan said that this support, which will be realized with the instructions of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the approval of the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mehmet Ersoy, will help promote the city. He stated that he would make a great contribution.
A welcome center will be built in the Ancient City of Tripolis
On the other hand, Mayor Zolan emphasized that with the support given to the Hierapolis Antin City, a significant support will be given to the Tripolis Ancient City located in the Buldan district, and that Minister Ersoy gave instructions to the authorities to build a welcome center for the Tripolis Ancient City as a priority, and that the excavations in Tripolis and He shared the information that an initial budget of 50 million TL will be given to be used in restoration works, and this figure will increase as the projects are prepared.
“We protect our city”
Denizli's 2008-year-old Western Theatre, which was restored by the Denizli Metropolitan Municipality with the "Laodicea Western Theater is Calling You" project in the Ancient City of Laodicea, where Denizli Metropolitan Municipality undertook its operation and supported the excavations with the protocol signed with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism for the first time in Turkey in 2200. Stating that they protect the cultural values, Mayor Zolan said that they work together with all institutions for the cultural heritage of the city. Mayor of Denizli Metropolitan Municipality, Osman Zolan, said that since the first day they took office, they have protected many values that bear witness to the history of the city, from the ancient period to the principalities, Seljuk, Ottoman and Republican periods. Stating that Denizli Metropolitan Municipality continues to protect the values of the city, especially Kaleiçi Bazaar, İlbade Cemetery and restored historical buildings, Mayor Zolan said; “We protect the history and culture of our city. Everything above and below this land belongs to us. Denizli is such a beautiful city that it is not possible to change it to other cities. "We protect our city," he said.
HERITAGE TO THE FUTURE PROJECT
During his recent visit to Denizli, Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Ersoy shared the following information about the "Hierapolis Heritage to the Future" project:
“First of all, we will carry out excavation, cleaning and restoration works in the cathedral and oracle structure, which are located on the main visitor route and are one of the important structures of Hierapolis. We will restore these two buildings, dating back to the Early Eastern Roman Period, with their existing blocks and open these areas to visitors in 2024. We anticipate that many important works will be completed in 2025. One of these is the documentation and project design of the Eastern Roman Gate and its walls and the existing architectural pieces in the building to the south of Plutonium. We will complete this quickly, place the architectural blocks in their places, and open these areas to visitors in 2025. Likewise, we will carry out excavation, restoration and partial erection of existing blocks on the access road to the basilica, the north and south necropolises and the Sanctuary of St. Philippus. We also have projects for the ancient Hierapolis theater, approved by the decision of the Regional Preservation Board. "The seating areas and side walls will be statically strengthened and restoration work will be carried out."
Stating that another project targeted for 2025 has been prepared for the Roman bath serving as the Hierapolis Archaeological Museum, Minister Ersoy stated that the survey, restitution, restoration and display, arrangement work planned in this context was approved by the board decision and that they started the implementation works.
Minister Ersoy stated that they also started landscaping works at the Hierapolis Archaeological Museum and said:
“A new exhibition hall will be created for the sculptures and we will design open-air exhibition spaces in the museum garden. While each work here is carried out meticulously, we are also re-planning the Ancient City of Hierapolis with a holistic landscaping project. We will renew the visitor reception centers and parking areas in the ancient city, create a new visitor management plan and create short and long tour itineraries. Within the scope of night museology, we will have completed the lighting works of monumental buildings and the tour route in the city by the end of the year. In this way, Hierapolis will be able to host night events like the Ancient City of Ephesus. In the 1957-year period since 66, when the excavations began, archaeological studies have been carried out in only 3,5 percent of our ancient city. With all these projects that I have mentioned, the applications that have started and intensive work, we will hopefully increase this rate to 2024 percent in 20 and to 2025 percent in 45. "We have envisaged an initial budget of 1 billion lira for this two-year process."
Minister Ersoy stated that an example of the digital experience museum concept, the first of which was opened in Ephesus, will be built here and said, “We have completed our project work. By implementing it as soon as possible, we will bring a new exception and attraction to Hierapolis.” he said.