Turkey protects cultural heritage 

cctv.com 10-13-2005 14:05

Turkey's unique geographic location between Europe and Asia has exposed the region to diverse cultural influences. The country has drawn on these influences to develop its own distinctive identity and rich culture, expressed in its architecture and fine arts. How to preserve this complex cultural heritage has become one of the most important issues for today's Turkey.

Thirteen civilizations have left their marks on this land.

Istanbul, which served as the capital of three great empires, has been left with a treasure of historic relics and architecture.

Whether it's the Topkapi Palace, home of 35 Ottoman sultans, or the more modern and European-styled Dolmabahce Palace, both have evolved over thousands of years. Thanks to efforts from the Turkish government, these architectural marvels are still standing elegantly, welcoming tourists from every corner of the world.

Ahmet Rasim, tour guide, Dolmabahce palace said, "We have to limit the number of visitors, and only 15-hundred people each day can visit the palace. Meantime, we've done lots of restoration and renovations."

Hagia Sophia, also known as the "church of holy wisdom", was the largest and most magnificent building in the world when it was built in 360 AD.

Over the centuries, the restoration and many additions to Hagia Sophia changed it from a church to a mosque, and finally to a museum. Now the museum is an ideal place to illustrate how Islam and Christianity can live together in peace.

Even today, the guardians of Turkish heritage make every effort to retain the beauty of these cultural legacies.

Mehmet Olcel, Counsellor, Culture & Information Section, Turkish Embassy, said, "First, we have special department for renovation and restoration. Secondly, we are constantly doing restoration on various ancient buildings. Thirdly, historical exploration on relics or antiques is strictly controlled by the government. And finally, the coordination with experts from around the world."

Apart from the preservation of this ancient cultural heritage, how to protect Istanbul's unique religious landscape is also on the agenda of Istanbul city planners.

Walking the streets of the old part of Istanbul, you can hardly imagine you are in a big metropolis. Every building and mosque here has witnessed thousands of years of change.

The city's master plan dictates that new buildings are only allowed on the outskirts of Istanbul. And, in order to preserve skyline of mosques and palaces, no buildings higher than five floors can be built in the old part of the city.

Yasemin Keskin Enginoz, architect, said, "We have some rules, like the roof system. And this is a kind of handicap for our design."

Aside from Istanbul, Turkey, as a whole, has been carrying out a series of campaigns to protect its rich cultural heritage.

The Goreme Open-Air Museum is one of the best-known sites in central Turkey. It is a monastic complex of rock churches and chapels. Most of the chapels date from the tenth to thirteenth centuries, and were built mainly during the Byzantine period. Covered with various frescoes, over 400 chapels and monasteries were hollowed out of the rock as schools for Christianity. From 1986 to 1998, UNESCO sent many artists from around the world to repaint some of these frescos.

Experts say that much work still needs to be done to better protect this heritage. And they suggest that it will take concerted efforts, as well as public input, to accomplish the goal.

Editor:Chen Zhuo  Source:CCTV.com