STORY: Night Museums project transforms Türkiye's ancient sites
SHOOTING TIME: Aug. 14, 2024
DATELINE: Aug. 22, 2024
LENGTH: 00:01:10
LOCATION: ISTANBUL, Türkiye
CATEGORY: CULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1. various of people visiting Ephesus at night
2. SOUNDBITE (Turkish): EDA BILDIRICIOGLU, CEO of DEM Museums
3. various of people visiting the digital museum in Izmir, Türkiye

STORYLINE:

As twilight descends on Ephesus, founded in the 10th century B.C. in Türkiye's Izmir province, lights will cast a captivating glow over the ancient city, offering a mesmerizing cultural experience for visitors until midnight.

The light show is part of the Night Museum project promoted by the Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry, which aims to attract more tourists and promote the country's historical sites during summer.

The initiative brings some of the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts' most extraordinary ancient sites, such as Ephesus, Hierapolis, Aspendos, Patara, Side, Phaselis, and Olympos, to life after sunset.

Ephesus's grand structures, including the theater and library, were primarily built during the Roman period, particularly from the 1st century B.C. onward.

While the Night Museums project attracts more tourists, it has also boosted the number of visitors to the digital museums in the ancient cities.

DEM Museums, a visual art design company, has transformed an old gendarmerie building into a stunning digital museum that brings Ephesus's history to life through projections and holograms.

SOUNDBITE (Turkish): EDA BILDIRICIOGLU, CEO of DEM Museums
"Looking around now, we truly enjoy the ambiance of the nighttime museum experience. The lighting and the way people experience the night here are unique. The project has resulted in at least a 10-percent increase in visitors compared to last year. This rise has certainly been reflected in the museum's attendance."

Bildiricioglu also highlighted that exploring historical sites in the evening provides a refreshing experience, allowing visitors to enjoy the comfort of the cool night air rather than the heat of the summer sun.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Istanbul, Türkiye.
(XHTV)