The Ministry closed the Antalya Archaeological Museum to visitors.

The award-winning Antalya Archaeological Museum will be demolished due to its earthquake resistance and increased storage needs. The museum will be closed to visitors starting today, per a decision by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Protests continue over the demolition of the Antalya Archaeological Museum , which won the Council of Europe 's "Museum of the Year" award. Groups gathered in front of the museum, but the door was blocked. According to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism , the museum will be closed to visitors as of July 16.

No statement from the ministry

It was previously announced that the cost of the new project to replace the museum would reach 2.5 billion lira, while the restoration of the old museum would require only 100 million lira. The Antalya Cultural Heritage Association (ANKA) objected to the complete demolition of the museum and appealed to the Cultural Heritage Preservation Regional Board . The Mediterranean Freelance Architects Association also submitted a formal application for registration of the site.

The result has not changed

After the museum closed , the Ministry of Culture and Tourism did not provide any explanation on how the thousands of archaeological and ethnographic artifacts on display would be preserved or moved until the new museum was built.

Scientists and NGOs oppose the destruction

Scientists and non-governmental organizations had previously issued statements reacting to the decision to demolish the Antalya Archaeological Museum.

Antalya Museum Working Group Spokesperson Prof. Dr. Gül Işın called on the people of Antalya to support the museum. Prof. Dr. Işın urged that the demolition decision be postponed and discussed with scientists and the people of Antalya. Işın said, “We demand that the demolition of our Antalya Archaeological Museum be halted. We do not want this valuable structure, a part of our cultural heritage, to be demolished, but rather preserved and restored! The Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced the demolition of the museum on March 20, 2025. They cited the building's earthquake resistance and increased storage needs as justifications. However, this building is no ordinary building. It is Turkey's first museum built through a competitive project. This feature alone gives it historical and documentary value. It holds a unique value not only for Antalya but also for Turkey's architectural culture.”

Prof. Dr. Gül Işın, emphasizing that the Antalya Archaeological Museum was not designed solely as a place to exhibit artifacts, continued:

"It was planned as a living, social, and cultural center, with a library, conference hall, amphitheater, and garden. We applied to the Antalya Cultural Heritage Preservation Board to protect the building as a cultural asset. Our request was rejected on the grounds that additions were being made to the building."

Prof. Dr. Hilmi Uysal, former president of the Akdeniz University Faculty Members Association, stated, “Antalya, hear me… Don't be surprised if the Antalya Museum is completely destroyed in two months. The museum will be closed in July, when tourism is at its busiest. This is unacceptable tourism. The statue of a weary Heracles (Hercules), smuggled from the US after a 40-year effort, is being brought to the Antalya Museum in its hometown. They want to leave it alone . Hercules is crying out for help. How can you harm Hercules? My people, hear us. Hercules is crying out for help.”

Must be transparent

Attorney Tuncay Koç stated that the Antalya Museum is being illegally demolished, and that the tender for its demolition and relocation was held in secret. Koç said, “Even the demolition of the museum is being carried out illegally. They are even holding the tender internally without disclosing the details to the public. They are trying to illegally demolish the Antalya Museum overnight. If this structure, this museum, is at risk, explain it and share it with the public. Be transparent. These kinds of practices completely alienate democracy.”

Recep Esengil, former president of the Antalya Branch of the Chamber of Architects, said, "It's not just the archaeological museum that's being demolished; it's an architectural work that's being torn down. This museum, built through a project competition involving hundreds of architects, is being demolished without any discussion by experts or scientists."