27.02.2026 14:13
Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy inspected the ongoing restoration works at Hagia Sophia and the Sultan Ahmed Mosque on-site. He announced that the multi-layered restoration at Hagia Sophia is continuing according to the planned schedule. He stated that the most comprehensive restoration works in its history, lasting over four hundred years, are being carried out at the Sultan Ahmed Mosque.
The Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, inspected the comprehensive restoration works carried out at the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque and the Sultanahmet Mosque on-site, along with Istanbul Governor Davut Gül and members of the Science Board. Emphasizing that the processes are conducted under the supervision of scientific boards, transparently and with scientific methods, Ersoy announced that the works in Sultanahmet have been completed, while the multi-layered restoration at Hagia Sophia is continuing according to the planned schedule.
Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, who inspected the restoration works carried out at the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque and the Sultanahmet Mosque, which are among Istanbul's most important religious and cultural heritage sites, provided evaluations to the press regarding the final stage of the works.
Stating that the processes are carried out in accordance with comprehensive examination, documentation, and planning phases, as well as consultations with scientists and the decisions and supervision of scientific boards, Ersoy reported that the works in Sultanahmet have been completed, and the applications at Hagia Sophia are progressing rapidly.
Minister Ersoy noted that they emphasize the indispensability of historical legacies in the field of culture and tourism at every opportunity as a Ministry, expressing that this approach is not just rhetoric.
Ersoy stated that since the day they took office, they have made restoration, construction, and revitalization works one of their main service headings, and he expressed that projects aimed at the protection of cultural assets and ancient civilization heritage have found concrete responses in the field.
Ersoy reported that numerous works, from Bodrum Castle to Sumela Monastery, from Selimiye to Kariye Mosque, and from Galata and Maiden's Tower to Sirkeci and Haydarpaşa train stations, as well as from Istanbul Archaeology Museums to Rami Library and Atlas Passage, have been meticulously restored, noting that even the works in Istanbul alone have created a comprehensive inventory.
Expressing that the restorations carried out within the scope of the "Heritage for the Future" project have spread over a wide geography, Ersoy stated that discussing the details of the projects would present a picture that would take days. He emphasized that they have rebuilt the completely destroyed works in 11 provinces affected by the disaster of the century and reported that significant steps have been taken abroad for the revitalization of ancestral heritage works.
Pointing out that the projects implemented in the heartland of their culture, from the Ethem Bey Mosque in Tirana to the Gül Baba Tomb in Hungary, have created a comprehensive list, Ersoy added that they see the protection of cultural heritage as a strategic responsibility.
Ersoy continued his speech as follows:
"Each of these is being realized under the supervision of boards formed by our very valuable scientists, and again through the dedicated, extremely sensitive, and meticulous applications of our very valuable experts and workers in the field. We are restoring our works in their most original form possible and ensuring that they are preserved for years to come, conducting various works from ground surveys and static reinforcements to environmental arrangements. This vision has been fully realized for the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque as well. While the ancient heritage of Rome continues to welcome its visitors, the legacy of Fatih Sultan Mehmet Han has been preserved, and this blessed temple of Islam has been reunited with its congregation. And in order to ensure that the structure can bring together all humanity under its dome for many more centuries, the most comprehensive restoration project in its history has been implemented with the goals of preserving the structure, maintaining the original material, and ensuring long-term structural safety. Today, we will share the details of these works that we carry out without hindering worship and visitation."
MULTI-LAYERED RESTORATION AT HAGIA SOPHIA Ersoy stated that within the scope of the works carried out at the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, scaffolding covering approximately 11,000 square meters has been erected on the north, east, and south facades, as well as on the minarets.
Expressing that cement-based plasters were detected on the north and east facades as a result of the analyses conducted, Ersoy said, "We meticulously cleaned these plasters over an area of approximately 2,800 square meters. We also carried out biological formation cleaning and salt removal processes on the surfaces where the scraping was completed. Currently, we are continuing mechanical cleaning works on the marble surfaces. With the analyses from our Central Laboratory, we identified findings from the Early Byzantine, Late Byzantine, and Ottoman periods in the joint and masonry mortars. With the approval of our Scientific Committee, we had handmade bricks produced suitable for the Byzantine and Ottoman periods and started using them in the repair works. Of course, georadar scans and digital modeling studies were also conducted to determine the need for strengthening the structure. Based on the data obtained from this work carried out over an area of 5,200 square meters, strengthening projects were prepared and approved," he said.
Ersoy announced that the works on the minarets and the dome are continuing according to the planned schedule.
Stating that controlled dismantling was carried out up to the balcony level in the northeast minaret within the framework of static analyses, Ersoy reported that the stones removed were documented one by one, and the usable stones were repaired with original methods and reinstalled in their places.
Ersoy informed that the re-masonry works in the body, muqarnas, honeycomb, and step sections of the minaret have been completed, and that the balcony flooring, railings, and tassel manufacturing have been carried out; he also noted that the repair of the copper finial and the gold leaf coating works have been completed.
Ersoy, stating that the surface cleaning has been completed, mentioned that the cone cladding and lead works are still ongoing. Emphasizing that the reinforcement works with stainless plates and rods are being carried out simultaneously in accordance with the static project, Ersoy added that inappropriate interventions based on cement have been cleaned, stone repairs have been carried out, and joint and cosmetic repair works are ongoing.
TEMPORARY STEEL ROOF AND 43.5-METER PLATFORM ON THE DOME Ersoy, who stated that the dome of the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque is one of the most magnificent examples of architecture and engineering in history, continued his speech as follows:
"In these works, we take every step with this awareness. While removing the lead cover, we prepared and obtained approval for temporary steel roof and platform projects to ensure that the mosaics and the structure inside are not affected by weather conditions. We have also completed the installation of the steel platform inside. Of course, I emphasize once again; before the installation of this system, which is 43.5 meters high, we conducted ground tests, load analyses, georadar scans, and vibration tests. Following the positive reports received as a result of these, we proceeded to implementation. We do not carry out any work without conducting scientific examinations and meeting the requirements of contemporary restoration, dear friends. When we moved to the harim section, we carefully documented and dismantled the existing marble flooring here. Then, we applied a multi-layered temporary flooring system that provides both load distribution and ground protection. The production of the steel platform has also been completed, and an elevator and stair system have been installed for access to the platform. At this point, under the temporary conventional steel roof, the foundation and base manufacturing at the dome's edge are ongoing, and the production of the dome's steel elements continues in the workshop. "
Ersoy, referring to the studies and cleaning works conducted on the underground tunnels and the underground burial structure known as hypogeum of the Hagia Sophia Mosque, expressed the importance of accurately informing the public to avoid speculation.
Ersoy noted that the works are being carried out in the West Garden and North Facade Vizier Garden areas with scientific methods and expert teams.
NEARLY 2,000 TONS OF FILL REMOVAL Stating that they have carried out cleaning and documentation works in the West Garden at Space 1, Space 2, and Space 3, along with the tunnels connected to these areas, Minister Ersoy shared the following details:
"In Space 1, we removed almost 112 tons of fill soil with the cleaning works we conducted between January 31 and March 10, 2025. In Space 2, we started excavations on March 12, 2025, and removed approximately 522 tons of fill soil. As of this month, we have also cleaned 32 tons of fill soil in the works we started in Space 3. Progress in the three different spaces is as follows. As I mentioned, with the works carried out in the West Garden, we have also documented the 7 tunnel lines connected to these spaces, which are hundreds of meters long. So far, we have cleaned 1,068 tons of soil fill from these tunnels. In the Vizier Garden area, which is considered an underground burial structure, we conducted cleaning works between June 2 and August 13, 2025. During this process, we removed 102 tons of fill soil from this special area. There is a main corridor here and symmetrical burial chambers on both sides. The main purpose of all these works is to uncover the historical layers of the structure, identify existing risks, and safely protect the cultural heritage. In this regard, we continue our works both in the underground tunnels and in the hypogeum area as project planning and intervention applications. These works, which we carry out with the approval of the Scientific Committee, are conducted alongside cleaning, documentation, and static measures taken. Generally, all the works we carry out in Hagia Sophia are conducted in accordance with the planned schedule, adhering to the principle of protecting historical and cultural heritage, using scientific methods, expert supervision, and a transparent implementation approach. We will pass on the legacy of Fatih to future generations while preserving its original identity. There should be no doubt about this. "
THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE RESTORATION IN HISTORY AT SULTANAHMET Ersoy stated that the most comprehensive restoration works in its history, lasting over four hundred years, have been carried out at the Sultanahmet Mosque. Noting that restoration and conservation works officially started in 2018, Ersoy expressed that in previous periods, mostly emergency interventions after earthquakes or partial applications depending on budget constraints were carried out, while in this process, a comprehensive restoration was conducted without closing the mosque to worship and visitation.
Ersoy reported that a steel platform 8 meters high and scaffolding 35 meters high were erected in the harim section of the mosque, covering an area of approximately 1200 square meters, reaching the main dome level, and that the structural repairs of the six minarets have been completed, with detailed interventions carried out on the cones and railings.
22,000 TILES DOCUMENTED, 400 TONS OF LEAD RENEWED Ersoy stated that approximately 400 tons of lead cladding covering the mosque has been renewed, and that the gold coatings of all the finials on the dome, weight tower, porticos, and minarets have been renewed; cleaning and strengthening works have been carried out on the stone and marble surfaces of the interior and exterior facades.
Ersoy expressed that the repurposed marble flooring stones in the portico courtyard were removed, and the ground infrastructure was strengthened and leveled, thus ensuring the healthy drainage of rainwater.
Ersoy reported that over 22,000 tiles from the 16th and 17th centuries in the mosque have been documented one by one and necessary interventions have been made, emphasizing that cement-based interventions added in previous repairs have been meticulously removed, reaching the original layers. He stated that conservation works have been carried out on the calligraphy and malakari decorated surfaces, and missing parts have been completed using original construction techniques.
Ersoy noted that conservation and restoration applications have been completed on the inlaid mother-of-pearl wooden doors and shutters, as well as on the bronze and iron doors and grilles, and that the mosque's lighting and sound systems have been renewed, improving acoustic performance, and the carpet has been changed in accordance with the historical identity.
Ersoy added that at this stage, conservation works are ongoing on the door with gold leaf craftsmanship made by Kuyumcubaşı Mehmet Zillî, the father of Evliya Çelebi, from the portico courtyard entrance doors, and that applications for the restoration of the Atmeydanı facade doors, the Hünkar Kasrı, and landscape arrangements are also continuing.
Emphasizing that the ongoing works are not carried out with a "I did it, it's done" or a short-term survival mentality, but with the determination to transfer the works to new centuries and generations, Ersoy expressed that every step is taken with a long-term protection and sustainability perspective.Ersoy stated that as the Ministry, they will continue to revive the heritage of civilization together with scientists, experts, and stakeholders.
"WE RESPOND WITH OUR WORKS" Noting that they are aware of the criticisms and distortions regarding the process, Ersoy recalled the claims made earlier about the roof of the Maiden's Tower, expressing that the strongest response to such statements is given through the work done and the projects presented.
Ersoy stated that they are carrying out the most comprehensive restoration works in the history of the Republic, and emphasized that developments regarding all projects, especially Hagia Sophia and Sultanahmet, will continue to be shared with the public transparently.
Ersoy thanked the members of the Hagia Sophia Science Committee, Prof. Dr. Hasan Fırat Diker, Prof. Dr. Asnû Bilban Yalçın, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Selim Ökten.
Expressing gratitude to the members of the Sultanahmet Science Committee, Prof. Dr. Zekai Celep, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sultan Karaoğlu, Dr. Ali Rıza Özcan, Dr. Ahmet Vefa Çobanoğlu, Dr. Feyhan İnkaya Takoğlu, and Chief Architect İbrahim Hakkı Yiğit, Ersoy also mentioned Prof. Dr. Can Şakir Binan and Prof. Dr. Ahmet Güleç, who served in both committees.
Thanking all the scientists involved in the restoration works, the experts working in the field, artists, and workers, Ersoy expressed his hope to come together again in new success stories after comprehensive information sharing.