Side's renown temples under restoration

ANTALYA - Cihan News Agency

Restoration works have been ongoing for 25 days by a team of 25 people. On the 5th century Southern Basilica had been finished up to 90 percent. The goal is to finish the works in the end of March.

The restoration process in the world famous temples area in the southern province of Antalya’s Side district will come to an end in March. Ninety percent of restoration has been done so far in 10 months, according to a statement made by the Culture and Tourism Ministry. 

The ministry handed over the temples area to the Side Municipality two years ago. The first restoration work started 10 months ago in the Southern Basilica (a kind of church in the early Christianity and Middle age architectures) located in the area of Temple of Athena in the ancient city of Side. 

The restoration in the temples area has been carried out by the Side Municipality in collaboration with Anadolu University Archaeology Department and under the surveillance of the head of the Side excavations Professor Hüseyin Alanyalı and his wide Associate Professor Feriştah Alanyalı. The works have been ongoing for 25 days by a team of 25 people. 

Providing information about the restoration and salvage works in the temples area, archaeologist Altan Algül said that the works on the 5th century Southern Basilica had been finished up to 90 percent. He said that their goal was to finish the works in the end of March. 

Chinese tourists in the ancient city 

Within the scope of their 2014 culture tours, Chinese journalists and tour guides have taken photographs of Side for the promotion of the ancient city. Tourists have chosen the ancient cities of Xanthos, Letoon, Myra, Perge, Termessos and Side as pilot area in Antalya for the promotion of Anatolian cultural beings. 

Unlike European, Scandinavian and Russian tourists, Chinese people do not prefer the sea, sun and sand tourism but 99 percent of them like to know cultural, archaeological and cultural places, according to data of the Culture and Tourism Ministry. 

Photojournalist from Beijing Aidon Lee said that Chinese tourists wanted to know more about Anatolian civilizations. Lee said that they would open an exhibition titled “Anatolian Traces” in Beijing with the photos taken in Turkey. 

“Turkey is better known in Beijing. Istanbul, Denizli, Konya, Bursa, Cappadocia and Antalya are privileged places. Chinese people give importance to the promotion of ancient places. They keep the photos for future generations,” Lee said. 

Culture and Tourism Ministry officials said that Turkey hosted 200,000 Chinese tourists last year.