ANKARA More than 361,000 people visited archaeological sites and museums in western Turkish provinces as part of the Night Museum initiative, the Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry said on Wednesday. The initiative, which opens the doors to a new era in cultural tourism, offered a significant opportunity for those wishing to visit museums and archaeological sites at night, the ministry said in a statement. The ministry launched the project for the first time in April.
From April to September, a total of 284,240 people visited the Ephesus Archaeological Site in Izmir province, while 76,975 people visited the ancient city of Hierapolis in Denizli province. A total of 361,215 visitors discovered the unique cultural heritages in the night atmosphere, Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said on X. Night Museum project added a whole new dimension to historical sites, Ersoy said.
"In the coming years, we will implement the Night Museum initiative in different locations, bringing the cultural riches of our country to even wider audiences," he added. *Writing by Zehra Nur Celik.