Journalist Yusuf Yavuz's post once again reveals the betrayal of historical values

Construction of a "viewing terrace" began in December 2023 at the Hıdırlık Tower, which is part of the historical city walls in Antalya. The construction carried out has also revealed how cultural heritage is being massacred.

Journalist and author Yusuf Yavuz expressed his grievance over the massacre of the historical structure, stating, "The transformation of the Hıdırlık Tower, one of the city's symbols, over more than 100 years points to a heartbreaking process that is not the result of the destruction of nature and time, but of human intervention. We not only fail to protect our cultural heritage, but we also fail to manage it."

"WE NOT ONLY FAIL TO PROTECT OUR CULTURAL HERITAGE, BUT WE ALSO FAIL TO MANAGE IT..."

Yavuz's post is as follows:

"The century-long evolution of a monumental structure offers a visual documentation of how cultural heritage is managed in Turkey. The current state of the Hıdırlık Tower, which is part of the historical city walls in Antalya, is in the frame on the left. Construction of a 'viewing terrace' began in December 2023.

Dating back to the Roman period, the Hıdırlık Tower is actually a monumental tomb. This colorized photograph, which belongs to the period when the structure, which served different purposes in every era, was adjacent to the walls, dates back to the early 1900s.

Although the walls adjacent to the structure were demolished in the 1950s, the Hıdırlık Tower continues to bear witness to time. The structure in front of the tower must have been an icehouse. The Konyaaltı beach, which had not yet been developed, can be seen in the distance. These were the years when Antalya's natural texture had not yet been spoiled...

By the 2000s, the Hıdırlık Tower was more or less like this with its new landscaping. Rising above the cliffs, the tower was welcoming its visitors with its intriguing beauty. It was a part of the city's coastal silhouette and historical texture.

In 2020, the Antalya Metropolitan Municipality started excavation work here. The area around the tower remained a construction site for about 3 years. Last December, the municipality started a viewing terrace project over the excavation area at the Hıdırlık Tower.

This was the rendering of the glass and steel viewing terrace built adjacent to one of the existing viewing terraces of Karaalioğlu Park. The project, which was previously bid at 38 million, was tendered for 66 million. As a result, the transformation of the Hıdırlık Tower, one of the city's symbols, over more than 100 years points to a heartbreaking process that is not the result of the destruction of nature and time, but of human intervention. We not only fail to protect our cultural heritage, but we also fail to manage it."

Anıtsal bir yapının yüz yıllık evrimi, Türkiye'de kültürel mirasın nasıl yönetildiği hakkında görsel bir belgeleme olanağı sunuyor. Antalya'da tarihi kent surlarının bir parçası olan Hıdırlık Kulesi'nin son hali, soldaki karede. Aralık 2023'te "seyir terası" inşası başlamıştı. pic.twitter.com/x9hXXqsDYW

— Yusuf Yavuz (@YusufYavuz3) February 17, 2024

News Source: 12punto