İTÜ · 2026
Young perspectives on Priene Eight finalist projects developed for Priene by Istanbul Technical University Landscape Architecture students, coordinated by the Priene Site Directorate.
8 projects Explore Concert at the Ancient City of Priene As part of the 2nd Priene Culture Festival organized by the Söke Municipality, a captivating concert featuring artist Alxandra Gravas took place at the theater in the Ancient City of Priene. The concert, coordinated by the Ancient City of Priene Site Administration, brought together the historic atmosphere and the arts.
May 9, 2026
The Priene Ancient City Site Administration Organized an Archaeology Workshop for Children As part of the 2nd Priene Culture Festival organized by the Söke Municipality, we, the Priene Ancient City Site Administration, held an Archaeology Workshop for children.
The children who participated in the workshop first discovered artifacts hidden underground; they then recorded their finds on find sheets and conducted an inventory.
At the end of the process, they received “Young Explorer” certificates from the experts and experienced a small-scale excavation.
Through this workshop, we sought to help children experience and understand cultural heritage and the importance of preserving it.
Söke District Governor Mr. Ali Akça and Söke Mayor Dr. Mustafa İberya Arıkan visited the archaeology workshop and presented the certificates to the young explorers.
May 9, 2026
A Meeting of the Advisory Board for the Priene Ancient City Management Area Was Held A meeting of the Advisory Board for the Priene Ancient City Management Area was held in the former village of Doğanbey, Söke.
The meeting, attended by members of the Priene Ancient City Management Area Advisory Board and the Site Directorate team, addressed the details of the Priene Ancient City Site Management Plan and the UNESCO World Heritage nomination process. During the meeting, participants evaluated the ongoing work and shared suggestions and contributions regarding the process.
May 8, 2026
Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Were Discussed at the “Legacy for the Future: What Does Archaeology Tell Us?” Panel A panel titled “A Legacy for the Future: What Does Archaeology Tell Us?” was held at the Söke Ephesus Cinema.
Organized under the coordination of the Priene Ancient City Site Directorate and with the participation of members of the Site Directorate’s Advisory Board, the panel discussed the science of archaeology, excavation processes, and current approaches to the preservation of cultural heritage.
The panel featured Prof. Dr. İbrahim Hakan Mert, a faculty member of the Department of Archaeology at Bursa Uludağ University and Director of the Priene Ancient City Excavations; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hasan Yılmazyaşar, a faculty member of the Department of Art History at Anadolu University and Director of the Karacahisar Castle Excavations; Dr. Ahmet Ali Altın, Research Assistant at the Department of Archaeology at Bursa Uludağ University and Deputy Director of the Priene Ancient City Excavation; and Architect Mine Aşçı Altan, Site Director of the Priene Ancient City.
The speakers provided insights into the scientific aspects of archaeological research, the processes involved in conducting excavations, and practices aimed at preserving cultural heritage.
In the final segment of the panel, questions from the audience—comprising residents of Söke and surrounding districts—were answered, and a comprehensive discussion took place on the connection archaeology establishes between the past and the future.
At the end of the panel, an interactive environment was created during a discussion with members of the Priene Ancient City Advisory Board, who participated as both panelists and audience members. It was noted that the event provided local participants with the opportunity to obtain direct information about the Ancient City of Priene and the ongoing processes and to ask questions, while panelists and advisory board members also had the opportunity to evaluate questions, opinions, and suggestions from the local community.
May 7, 2026
Young People Discovered Cultural Heritage in Priene As part of the “My City Söke: Youth Learn on Site” project, an event was organized at the Ancient City of Priene with the participation of students. During the event, information was shared on the preservation of cultural heritage, while the students performed in the ancient theater and then toured the Ancient City of Priene.
Söke District Governor Ali Akça, Priene Ancient City Site Director Mine Aşçı Altan, Priene Ancient City Excavation Director Prof. Dr. İbrahim Hakan Mert, Deputy Director of Excavations at the Ancient City of Priene Dr. Ahmet Ali Altın, Söke Deputy Mayors Murat Günal and Necmettin Aka, and Söke Chamber of Commerce President Metin Sakalar attended the opening of the event, Prof. Dr. İbrahim Hakan Mert and Mine Aşçı Altan shared their insights on the historical significance of the Ancient City of Priene and the preservation of cultural heritage.
The program, which included students from Cafer Efe Girls’ Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School, Şehit Faruk Demir Anatolian Imam Hatip High School, and Söke Exam College, aimed to raise young people’s awareness of cultural heritage preservation and to allow them to explore the Ancient City of Priene firsthand.
May 6, 2026
Children Are Getting to Know Priene; Awareness of Cultural Heritage Is Growing A group of 160 people—comprising third-grade students, teachers, and parent representatives from Söke Sıdıka Elementary School—was accompanied by the Site Administration team during their tour of the Ancient City of Priene. We sought to contribute to the development of our children’s conservation awareness by helping them recognize, appreciate, and take ownership of this cultural heritage.
May 5, 2026
The Bouleuterion of Priene Hosted Modern-Day Assemblies The Söke Municipality’s Regular May Council Meeting was held at the Bouleuterion (Council Building), one of the important public structures of the Ancient City of Priene.
Prior to the meeting, Söke Mayor Dr. Mustafa İberya Arıkan and Priene Ancient City Site Director Architect Mine Aşçı Altan briefed council members and members of the press on the work being carried out at the Priene Ancient City and the UNESCO World Heritage nomination process.
The presentation covered Priene’s cultural heritage value, conservation efforts, and the process being carried out toward the goal of inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Following the briefing, the Söke Municipality held its May Regular Council Meeting.
After the municipal council meeting concluded, the Söke Chamber of Commerce’s May Regular General Assembly was also held at the Bouleuterion of the Ancient City of Priene. Prior to the meeting, Metin Sakalar, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Söke Chamber of Commerce, delivered a presentation highlighting the cultural and historical significance of the Ancient City of Priene for Söke and the region. Sakalar emphasized the importance of preserving and promoting Priene, as well as the process of its nomination for the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Following the speech, members of the Söke Chamber of Commerce held their regular general assembly meeting. Thus, the Bouleuterion—which served as the city’s administrative center in ancient times—continues to host the city’s decision-making and representative bodies today, helping to forge a meaningful link between history and the present.
April 4, 2026
Urban Planners Examined Priene’s Urban Heritage On-Site Members of the İzmir and Aydın Chamber of Urban Planners visited Priene. The city, one of the best-preserved examples of Hellenistic-period urban planning, was examined on-site as part of a technical tour.
Architect Mine AŞCI ALTAN, Site Director of the Ancient City of Priene, and members of the Site Directorate team accompanied the participants throughout the tour, providing technical information on the city’s grid plan system, architectural organization, design of public spaces, and its relationship with the topography; and also provided information regarding the city’s UNESCO World Heritage nomination process.
April 26, 2026
The Regional Directorate Accompanied the Fieldwork for the Disaster Risk Analysis Conducted by AFAD at the Ancient City of Priene Field surveys for disaster risk analysis were conducted at the Ancient City of Priene with the participation of AFAD experts and the team from the Ancient City of Priene Site Directorate.
The work was carried out in two phases on April 21, 2026, and April 28, 2026, covering the northern and southern areas.
As part of these field surveys, data was collected to identify disaster risks at the Ancient City of Priene and to evaluate them within the framework of balancing conservation and use.
An Information Session for Tour Guides Was Held at the Ancient City of Priene Guides from the Aydın Tourist Guides Association (ATRO) visited the ancient city of Priene under the coordination of the Priene Ancient City Site Administration.
Dr. Ahmet Ali Altın, Deputy Director of Excavations at the Priene Ancient City, provided local guides with academic information about the city’s history, structures, and urbanization process.
It was emphasized that the program, which was also attended by the working team of the Priene Ancient City Site Administration, is significant for raising awareness and promoting Priene, which is currently in the UNESCO nomination process.
April 21, 2026
An International Interview Was Conducted on the Ancient City of Priene and the UNESCO Process An interview covering the Ancient City of Priene and its UNESCO nomination process was conducted for broadcast on DeutschlandFunk, Germany’s public radio station. The interview, which will be permanently available as a podcast and will also appear in print, was conducted by a DeutschlandFunk reporter accompanied by teams from the Excavation and Site Directorate at the Ancient City of Priene.
During the tour of Priene, information about the city’s history and structures was provided by Dr. Ahmet Ali ALTIN, Deputy Director of the Priene Excavations.
Following the city tour, an interview was conducted at the Priene Ancient City Site Directorate office with Site Director Mine AŞCI ALTAN regarding Priene’s UNESCO processes.
April 17, 2026
The 1st Coordination and Oversight Committee Meeting for the Priene Ancient City Management Area in 2026 Was Held. The meeting, held in the Söke Municipality Council Chamber, was chaired by Mine Aşcı Altan, Head of the Priene Ancient City Site, and attended by Dr. Ahmet Ali Altın, Deputy Director of Excavations at the Priene Ancient City; Hüseyin Batır, Deputy Mayor of Söke; Metin Sakalar, President of the Söke Chamber of Commerce; the Aydın Governor’s Office, the Aydın Governor’s Office Directorate of Investment Monitoring and Coordination, the Söke District Governor’s Office, the Aydın Metropolitan Municipality, the Söke Municipality, the Aydın Provincial Directorate of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change, the Aydın Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism, the Milet Museum Directorate, the Aydın Regional Council for the Protection of Cultural Assets, Aydın Provincial Directorate of Disaster and Emergency Management (AFAD), Aydın Provincial Treasury, South Aegean Development Agency (GEKA), 2nd Regional Directorate of Highways, and the 211th Branch of the 21st Regional Directorate of State Hydraulic Works (DSİ).
This meeting, held as part of the nomination process for the ancient city of Priene to be included on the UNESCO World Heritage List, served as the starting point for a concrete roadmap by bringing together the views and recommendations that emerged from previously held stakeholder information sessions, the advisory board meeting, and the local stakeholder meeting.
At the meeting, institutional representatives signed off on decisions that will make significant contributions to the UNESCO process for the Ancient City of Priene.
April 16, 2026
Ersin Tatar, the 5th President of the TRNC, and Member of Parliament Seda Sarıbaş Visited the Priene Site Administration We hosted Mr. Ersin Tatar, the 5th President of the TRNC; Ms. Seda Sarıbaş, AK Party Member of Parliament for Aydın; Dr. Mustafa İberya Arıkan, Mayor of Söke; Mr. M. Saki Oğuz, and the MHP Söke District Chairman, Mr. Gürhan Selçuk, at the Priene Ancient City Site Administration.
During the meeting, Ms. Mine Aşçı Altan, Director of the Priene Ancient City Site, delivered a comprehensive presentation on the work being carried out at the site, conservation and management activities, and the progress made toward Priene Ancient City’s designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
March 28, 2026
Stakeholder Meeting Held for the “Priene: Cultural Heritage and Learning” Project An informational and stakeholder meeting was held as part of the “Priene: Cultural Heritage and Learning” project, led by Söke Yavuz Selim Anatolian High School.
Havva SEÇER SAĞINÇ, Director of Culture and Tourism for Aydın Province, representatives from the Priene Ancient City Site Administration, the Söke Municipality Directorate of Culture, Arts, and Social Affairs, the Söke Association for Historical Research and the Preservation of Cultural Values, the Yavuz Selim High School Parent-Teacher Association, and students took part in the meeting, which was held at Söke Yavuz Selim Anatolian High School.
March 27, 2026
“The Priene Site Administration Team Participated in the ‘New Routes in Alternative Tourism: From Tralleis to Latmos’ Training Session” The four-day training program titled “New Routes in Alternative Tourism: From Tralleis to Latmos,” organized by the Aydın Governor’s Office and supported by GEKA, has been successfully completed.
The working team from the Priene Ancient City Site Directorate participated in this program, which was designed for public sector employees.
March 26, 2026
A Collaboration Meeting Was Held for the “My City Söke” Project The “My City, Söke: Youth Discover Their City” project is being launched. The Söke District Governor’s Office, the Söke District Directorate of National Education, and the project leader, Özel Söke Sınav College, in collaboration with partner schools—Söke Cafer Efe Girls’ Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School and Şehit Faruk Demir Anatolian Imam Hatip High School—held an informational meeting at Sınav College regarding the project.
The meeting was attended by Mine AŞCI ALTAN, Head of the Priene Ancient City Site; Necmettin AKA, Deputy Mayor of Söke; and Metin SAKALAR, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Söke Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Advisory, Coordination, and Supervisory Board of the Priene Ancient City Site.
During the meeting, instructors from Özel Söke Sınav College—the lead school for the project—provided information, and discussions focused on potential support for the project and possible institutional collaborations.
March 24, 2026
ITU Projects for Priene Presented to the Jury for the First Time Organized by the Department of Landscape Architecture at Istanbul Technical University and led by Prof. Dr. Hayriye EŞBAH TUNÇAY, a member of the Advisory Board of the Priene Ancient City Site Directorate, and under the guidance of Mine AŞCI ALTAN, Director of the Priene Ancient City Site, the first review session for the works produced as part of the “Sediment of Time, Priene Shifting Grounds” project was held at Istanbul Technical University’s Taşkışla Campus.
March 13, 2026
Priene Ancient City Site Directorate Local Stakeholder Meeting Held The Priene Ancient City Site Management organized a Local Stakeholder Meeting in the Güllübahçe, Turunçlar area.
The meeting, attended by business owners in the area, the village headman, representatives of the Güllübahçe Atatürk Primary and Secondary School, Söke Yavuz Selim High School, Söke Municipality Culture Directorate, and local residents, included presentations informing participants about the work of the Priene Ancient City Site Directorate and the city's UNESCO World Heritage process. The meeting also discussed the involvement of local residents and businesses in the process.
We would like to thank all participants who contributed to the local ownership awareness by attending the meeting, where the views, suggestions, and concerns of the local community and businesses regarding the current situation and expectations of the region were discussed.
Thanks to Söke Municipality and Söke Chamber of Commerce We would like to thank the Söke Municipality for covering the accommodation and evening meals of the academic group conducting research in the region during the technical trips undertaken by the Landscape Architecture Department of Istanbul Technical University as part of their cultural landscape projects focusing on Priene. We also extend our gratitude to the Söke Chamber of Commerce for organizing the dinner at Karina Restaurant on the second day of the technical trip.
Technical Trip to Söke from Istanbul Technical University Department of Landscape Architecture: "Priene, Cultural Landscape" An academic group consisting of faculty members and students from the ITU Department of Landscape Architecture visited the Söke region as part of a three-day technical trip for their graduation projects on the topic of "Priene, Cultural Landscape."
As part of a visit by a technical delegation from the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, restoration and cultural heritage projects being carried out in Söke were examined on site. As part of the visit by the technical delegation from Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, restoration and cultural heritage projects being carried out in Söke were examined on site.
The delegation visiting Söke included representatives from the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality's Department of Urban History, Promotion, and Tourism; the Directorate of Historic Structures; the Directorate of Historical Environment and Cultural Assets; the Directorate of Cultural Heritage Management and Promotion; and the Directorate of Protection, Implementation, and Supervision. The delegation also included technical staff, architects, urban planners, restorers, and master builders.
1st Advisory Board Meeting As the Priene Ancient City Site Directorate, our 1st Advisory Board Meeting, held on December 18–19, 2025, was successfully completed with the participation of academics and experts in their fields from various cities across our country.
Erasmus+ project carried out by the Aydın Provincial Directorate of the Ministry of Family and Social Services of the Republic of Turkey Within the scope of the Erasmus+ project carried out by the Aydın Provincial Directorate of the Ministry of Family and Social Services, we held a presentation and discussion focusing on the ancient city of Priene, covering topics such as urban planning in ancient cities, bringing water resources to the city and their use, and utilizing natural resources.
Erasmus+ Youth Participation Project As part of the Erasmus+ Youth Participation Project run by the Aydın Provincial Directorate of Family and Social Services, an active environmental cleanup activity (plogging) was organized at the ancient city of Priene.
We hosted the "Priene Cultural Heritage and Learning" project team. We hosted the "Priene Cultural Heritage and Learning" Project team, consisting of teachers from Söke Yavuz Selim Anatolian High School, at the Priene Ancient City Site Directorate.
UNESCO UNESCO is a United Nations agency founded in 1945 and headquartered in Paris. It promotes cooperation in the fields of education, science, culture, and communication; it contributes to peace and sustainable development by protecting cultural heritage.
Bicycle Tour Sunday, September 21, 2025. Priene Ancient City Bike Tour organized to draw attention to Priene's UNESCO process.
Priene Area Directorate Stakeholder Search and Information Meetings / Public Institutions and Organizations The Priene Ancient City Site Management Office organized 'Stakeholder Search and Information' meetings at the Söke Municipality Council Hall on September 16-17-18, 2025, as part of the work related to the nomination process of the Priene Ancient City for the UNESCO World Heritage Permanent List.
THY Visit to Priene Turkish Airlines (THY) Board of Directors and Executive Committee Chairman Prof. Dr. Ahmet Bolat visited the ancient city of Priene.
Priene Area Directorate Stakeholder Search and Information Meetings / NGOs Priene's journey to UNESCO
Acropolis Tour A field survey was conducted during the climb to the summit of the Acropolis Hill in the ancient city of Priene by experts assigned to the Priene Site and Excavation Directorates, and the current situation was assessed.
Visit to the Excavation Directorate by the Field Directorate The Priene Ancient City Site Management Team visited the city and excavation site to conduct on-site inspections following a meeting with the Priene Excavation Directorate.
Visit to Priene by IYTE During the city tour organized by the Architecture Department of Izmir Institute of Technology, we provided information about the ancient city of Priene and the UNESCO processes.
Stakeholder Search and Information Meetings / Academy The Priene Ancient City Site Management Office organized 'Stakeholder Search and Information' meetings at the Söke Municipality Council Hall on September 16-17-18, 2025, as part of the work related to the nomination process of the Priene Ancient City for the UNESCO World Heritage Permanent List.
Priene Ancient City Site Directorate Advisory Board Meeting First day of the Advisory Board Meeting of the Priene Ancient City Site Directorate.
UNESCO PROCESS