Tourexpi
Regarded
as the world’s oldest temple and often referred to as the “zero point of
history,” Göbeklitepe is situated in Şanlıurfa’s Haliliye district,
approximately 18 kilometers (11 miles) from the city center, near the rural
village of Örencik.
Although
first noted during surface surveys in 1963, it wasn’t until 1986—when a local
farmer discovered a statue while plowing—that the site’s true significance
began to unfold. Official excavations began in 1995 under the guidance of the
Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Archaeologists unearthed massive
T-shaped megaliths from the Neolithic period, standing between 3 and 6 meters
(10–20 feet) tall and weighing up to 60 tons.
These
discoveries catapulted Göbeklitepe into the spotlight, earning it a place on
UNESCO’s Tentative List in 2011 and full World Heritage status in 2018. The
site opened to visitors in 2019, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
declaring it the “Year of Göbeklitepe” to mark the occasion.
Despite
interruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the devastating earthquake
and flood disasters of 2023, Göbeklitepe has welcomed a total of 3,645,023
visitors between 2019 and the first half of 2025. Yearly visitor numbers were:
2019:
412,378
2020:
197,912
2021:
567,453
2022:
837,811
2023:
512,164
2024:
731,794
2025
(first half): 385,511
A
must-see on every Şanlıurfa itinerary
Aydın
Aslan, head of Şanlıurfa’s Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism,
emphasized that Göbeklitepe is now a central destination for tourists visiting
the region.
“The
UNESCO designation has elevated Göbeklitepe to the heart of tourism in
Şanlıurfa,” said Aslan. “Every tour that comes to the city includes a visit to
this extraordinary site. Its significance will only grow as a driver of both
regional and national cultural tourism in the years ahead.”
Aslan
also highlighted the Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s international outreach
efforts, including the exhibition “Göbeklitepe: The Enigma of a Sacred Place”
held at the Colosseum in Rome.
“The
exhibition ran for six months and attracted over six million visitors,” he
noted. “It created immediate interest in the site. Many who visited the
Colosseum exhibit have since come to Şanlıurfa to see Göbeklitepe in person.”
Ahmet
Yazdağ, a visitor from Australia, shared his enthusiasm:
“I
work at a hospital in Australia, and even there, many doctors are eager to
visit Göbeklitepe. I truly hope they get the chance. Şanlıurfa is absolutely
worth the journey.”
Image
Credit: © AA
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