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The Red Basilica in the ancient city of Pergamon in Izmir’s Bergama district is moving toward a public reopening in 2026, as restoration, conservation and landscaping works continue under the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s “Heritage for the Future” project.
Set within the Multi-Layered Cultural Landscape Area of Pergamon on the UNESCO World Heritage List (an international designation recognizing sites of outstanding universal value), the temple—known locally as Kizil Avlu for its distinctive red bricks—will gain a new welcome center, reworked paths, and infrastructure for night-time visiting.
Built in the second century A.D. during the reign of Roman Emperor Hadrian, the complex was originally dedicated to Egyptian gods.
As Christianity spread in Anatolia in the fifth century, it was converted into a church by dividing the interior into naves; the Bible’s “seven churches” tradition includes a community in Pergamon, which archaeologists link to this very site due to its scale.
One end of the precinct also holds a synagogue, showing how Pagans, Christians, and Jews all marked the place as significant.
Of the two round towers flanking the main temple, one has served as Kurtulus Mosque since the early years of the Republic.
Although the monument is identified with its red brick core, archaeologists note that the exterior—and even the roof—was originally clad in marble, so that from a distance the whole structure read as a single mass of stone.
As Professor Yusuf Sezgin, excavation coordinator and head of the Archaeology Department at Manisa Celal Bayar Universitesi, put it, “people will see a brand new and very orderly area” when the site reopens. He added that the brick you see today forms the structural core.
The sanctuary rises over the Selinus River and stands out for its plan and layout, with no close parallel in the ancient world.
The overall precinct measures roughly 270 meters (885.8 feet) by 100 meters, while the main temple at the eastern end is about 60 meters long and 10 meters wide, with walls reaching 25 meters high, underscoring its monumental scale.
Scholars point out that architects and craftsmen may have been brought from Rome for this project, given the rarity of such brick construction traditions in Anatolia.
Work at Kizil Avlu began in March 2025 and has not let up since, focusing on conservation and repairs, redesigned circulation and amenities that will ease visitor access.
The complex is currently closed, but the team plans to open it to the public in 2026.
Professor Sezgin underlined the long-term goal, noting that they aim to pass the monument on to future generations through ongoing conservation and site management in Pergamon, one of Türkiye’s most layered heritage landscapes.
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