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Restoration work has officially begun at the Treasury Tower of the Yedikule Fortress, a historic structure in Istanbul that once served as a secure repository for Ottoman state treasury and war spoils. The project is being carried out by the Fatih Municipality as part of a wider conservation effort at one of the city’s most significant heritage sites.
Yedikule Fortress, located near Istanbul’s historic land walls, is widely regarded as one of the world’s oldest open-air museums. Built with layers dating back to the Byzantine and Ottoman periods, the complex has long held symbolic and strategic importance. Municipal authorities say the start of work on the Treasury Tower marks a new and carefully planned stage in the ongoing restoration program.
According to the municipality, the Treasury Tower held a key role during the Ottoman era, when it was used to safeguard state wealth and valuable spoils captured during military campaigns. Because of this function, the tower has remained one of the most historically sensitive parts of the fortress.
Fatih Mayor Mehmet Ergun Turan said the restoration of Yedikule Fortress has been moving forward with great care, and that the Treasury Tower is now being handled with the same level of attention. He underlined that the site is not only important for Istanbul, but also for global cultural heritage, given its age and continuous use over centuries.
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Municipal officials noted that the restoration process is being shaped through close consultation with a Scientific Advisory Board made up of specialists in history, architecture, and conservation. Detailed on-site examinations have already been carried out, and the work is being designed to protect the tower’s original identity and historical texture.
Mayor Turan emphasized that decisions are being taken through collective discussion, with scientific methods placed at the center of the process. He also stressed that safeguarding Istanbul’s historical assets through shared expertise remains a core principle of the municipality’s approach.
Once restoration is completed, the Treasury Tower is expected to be given a new function that will support Yedikule Fortress as a whole, both in terms of conservation and visitor experience. Officials say the goal is to integrate the tower into a broader protection and visitation framework, ensuring that its historical significance can be understood clearly by future generations.
As Turan stated in a notable remark, passing on structures such as the Treasury Tower as a strong and accurate legacy to coming generations is seen as a major responsibility. The municipality maintains that this responsibility guides every stage of the restoration now under way.
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