Gaziantep

The country's museums and archaeological sites have attracted almost 14 million visitors in the first six months of the year, seeing a considerable uptick compared to the same period last year, the Culture and Tourism Ministry has announced.

An archaeologist has advocated placing the mosaics found in the northern province of Zonguldak 16 years ago, which are often referred to as the "Zeugma of the Black Sea region," under protection, amid residents' calls to tap into the area's tourism potential.

First lady Emine Erdoğan has inaugurated an exhibition at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, highlighting Aegean cuisine as part of the third edition of Turkish Cuisine Week festivities.

All 81 provinces of Türkiye, along with its overseas representations, are hosting a week-long series of programs spotlighting the unique dishes and local ingredients of Turkish gastronomy.

A collision between a passenger minibus and a truck has killed at least eight people and injured 11 others in the southeastern province of Gaziantep.

A minibus traveling towards the neighboring city of Hatay on May 6 collided with a concrete mixer truck, local media reported. The vehicle carrying several passengers was crushed by the impact of the accident and tumbled down a slope.

Zeugma Mosaic Museum in the southeastern province of Gaziantep, one of the largest mosaic museums in the world, broke its daily visitor record during the Eid holiday.

Gaziantep Museum Director Özgür Çomak stated that the all-time visitor record across Türkiye was broken on the second day of Eid al-Fitr and said, "We reached a record number with 5,660 people on the second day alone."

Türkiye's southeastern province of Gaziantep, which has recently ranked ninth among the world's best gastronomy cities as chosen by a world-renowned rating company, continues promoting its dishes internationally.

The restoration works in the Gaziantep Castle, which was severely damaged in the earthquakes centered in Türkiye's east on Feb. 6 last year, have been completed by 60 percent. The overall restoration is set to conclude by the end of the year.

Within the scope of an operation, police teams have seized over 450 animals smuggled into different regions of Türkiye and sent them to the southeastern province of Gaziantep's zoo for their care and protection.

Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy announced that more than 3,000 artifacts were returned to the country in 2023 within the scope of the works.

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has launched a global donation campaign for the restoration of cultural assets damaged in the Feb. 6 earthquakes.

With a total of 352 out of 8,444 historic buildings in 11 provinces in the earthquake zone damaged or destroyed, the UNDP campaign focuses on buildings such as Hatay Archaeology Museum, Gaziantep Castle and Sarımiye Mosque.