By Mehmet Akif Parlak
GAZIANTEP, Turkiye (AA) – The Zeugma Mosaic Museum, one of the world's largest mosaic museums located in Turkiye's southeast, has attracted over 2.02 million visitors since its opening in July 2011, said a senior official.
The museum's Director Ozgur Comak told Anadolu Agency that since the curfews were lifted completely on June 1, 2021, the number of visitors to the museum has increased significantly.
The museum in Gaziantep province, which opened to the public in July 2011, is home to unique ancient artifacts such as mosaics, Roman-era fountains, a bronze sculpture of Mars – the god of war in Roman mythology – and the famous Gypsy Girl.
The 12 pieces of the mosaic of the Gypsy Girl were returned by the US to Turkiye after 52 years.
In addition, the museum received Turkiye's Presidential Culture and Arts Grand Awards in 2012.
Saying that the visitors’ interest in the museum is increasing every year, Comak noted: "We were doing very well in the first three months of 2020. There was a tourism boom in the city."
In 2019, the museum had over 340,000 visitors. He said due to a rapid surge in COVID-19 cases across the country, Turkiye had to adopt precautions and lockdowns, resulting in a drop in tourist numbers and visits. He expects that this number will be exceeded this year.
The museum is also open seven days a week, he added.