Istanbul: Archaeological Museums reopen after extensive restoration - Get updated on what's happening in tourism!

The Istanbul Archaeological Museums have undergone an extensive restoration and modernization programme covering historic buildings, exhibition spaces and the surrounding grounds. The project includes the main neoclassical museum building, the Museum of the Ancient Orient, the Tiled Kiosk and the courtyard, while a new visitor entrance has been created at nearby Gülhane Square.

The work combines structural restoration with a redesign of the visitor experience. Galleries have received updated exhibition and lighting systems, while archaeological objects have also been moved into newly created outdoor displays. According to Türkiye’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the aim was to preserve the architectural character of the complex while adapting it to contemporary museum standards.

Restoration project began in 2011

Work on the main building started in 2011 and was carried out in several stages. Structural reinforcement was followed by conservation and exhibition work, allowing the building to reopen to visitors in 2021.

A further phase began in January 2023, concentrating on the Museum of the Ancient Orient and the Tiled Kiosk.

At the Museum of the Ancient Orient, the restoration included reinforcement of concrete and vaulted ceilings as well as masonry walls. The roof was renewed, while decorative elements and sculptures on the façade underwent conservation.

The Assyrian, Sumerian, Sumerian-Akkadian, Arabian, Babylonian, Hittite, Urartian and Egyptian galleries were also reorganised and equipped with new exhibition and lighting systems. The museum reopened on 6 July.

54,000 tiles individually assessed

Particularly detailed conservation work was required at the Tiled Kiosk. Later additions to the roof were removed and ageing lead coverings replaced with materials compatible with the historic structure.

Around 54,000 tiles on the exterior were catalogued, with an individual conservation plan prepared for each one. The work included cleaning and strengthening as well as repairs and colour restoration.

Inside, the displays covering İznik, Kütahya, Çanakkale, Early Ottoman and Seljuk ceramics were also updated.

Archaeology moves into the open air

Changes extend beyond the museum interiors. The main entrance to the complex has been relocated to Gülhane Square, where a new visitor reception centre has been established.

The route towards the museums has itself become part of the exhibition. Along Osman Hamdi Bey Slope, which connects Gülhane Square with the complex, 38 archaeological objects are now displayed.

A further approximately 140 objects have been installed in the redesigned museum courtyard. In total, nearly 180 archaeological artefacts can therefore be encountered outdoors before and around the museum buildings.

A cultural space in the heart of Istanbul

The Istanbul Archaeological Museums comprise one of the city’s most important collections of archaeological material, with exhibits representing numerous civilisations and periods across the wider region.

“We regard this not simply as a museum complex where artifacts are exhibited, but as a living cultural space where visitors can engage with history, art, architecture and culture,” said Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy.

The restoration therefore changes more than the individual galleries. With the new entrance, outdoor displays and renewed historic buildings, the museum complex is intended to function as a more integrated cultural area between Gülhane and Istanbul’s historic peninsula.

Image Credit: © AI generated illustration with material courtesy of AA