It was included on the UNESCO list: Sardis Ancient City is illuminated at night!

Published: November 2, 2025, 03:00 Updated: November 2, 2025, 03:51

Preparations for a nighttime museum have been completed in the ancient city, which served as the capital of the Lydian Kingdom. Starting in April, visitors will be able to explore Sardis with special illumination.

In Sardis, considered the site where the first coin was minted, lighting and landscaping work has been completed in the areas surrounding the Temple of Artemis, the Gymnasium, and the bath complex. This will allow visitors to experience the millennia-old Lydian heritage at night.

Mücahit Arınç, an AK Party Central Executive Committee member and Manisa MP, stated that they have been working in coordination with relevant institutions since the beginning of the project. Arınç said, “Preserving our thousands of years of cultural heritage and passing it on to the future is our greatest duty. Sardis's inclusion on the UNESCO list has further strengthened this responsibility.”

Highlighting Manisa's rich historical heritage, Arınç said, "With the Sardis lighting project, we are now ushering in the era of night museums. Sardis, like Ephesus, will become a cultural destination that can be visited at night." Arınç also emphasized that with the completion of the restorations of the Aigai Ancient City and Yoğurtçu Castle, Manisa will become a major attraction for both domestic and international tourists.

Arınç visited the Manisa Museum with Provincial Director of Culture and Tourism İbrahim Sudak and received information about the works on display.