Kibrya Has Become An Important Attraction Center In Terms Of Tourism

The ancient city of Kibrya, unearthed by the faculty members of Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University (MAKU), is increasing its number of visitors day by day. Kibrya Ancient City, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List, is attracting great interest compared to previous years.

Professor Dr. Şükrü Özüdoğru, a faculty member of the MAKU Archaeology Department and the head of the excavation, stated that the ancient city of Kibrya will become an important historical visit area like Ephesus and Pamukkale in our country in the coming years. Özüdoğru said the following in his statement;

Visitor Number Increased 10 Times Compared to Previous Years

“In the excavations we have been conducting in Kibrya since 2006, significant monumental structures were revealed. Among these, we had our Medusa Mosaic, which is unique in the world with its construction technique and is the only one that promotes Kibrya nationally and internationally. We had a monumental fountain that we completed its excavation starting from 2019. In 2022, our team completed the restoration of this fountain in the Agora and water was flowed from its original source in 2023. This was quite effective after Medusa, I guess. The restoration of the fountain also made a significant impact by flowing water again from its original source and restoring it to its old function. This also appeared in a large number of press organs at the national and international level. We also see that it has a great impact on the number of visitors to the city. In recent years, the number of visitors to Kibrya was increasing day by day. But especially after the restoration of the fountain, we can say that this has almost increased tenfold. We hope that this increase will be taken to further levels with our ongoing excavation works and Kibrya will become an important historical visit area like Ephesus and Pamukkale in our country in the coming years. Our new excavation works continue in the square on the third terrace of the Agora where this fountain is located, new structures are emerging. We had our stadium. We had finished our excavation works in a sports area for 10,000 people. We will start the restoration works with the support of our Ministry. We have a large monumental gate symbolizing the entrance to the ancient city. City Jewelry. We also want to revive it in the coming years. When these projects are realized, Kibrya will become an important attraction in terms of tourism."

Only Exists in Burdur in Turkey

Prof. Dr. Şükrü Özüdoğru, who stated that there are 2 fountains in Turkey where water is flowed from the ancient source and both of these fountains are located in Burdur, said; “The fountain is especially important in this respect, as you know, there are 2 monumental fountains in our country where water is flowed from the ancient source. Both of them are in Burdur. The first was in the city of Sagalassos in the district of Ağlasun. The second is in the ancient city of Kibrya in our district of Gölhisar. These developments are important in terms of tourism. The tourism potential and interest in this region will increase even more as the city is revealed day by day with new restoration and excavation areas in the coming years. Especially, I was of the opinion that Burdur, which is right next to a tourism city like Antalya, will get the value it deserves from this tourism share as a result of these studies.”