The scaffolding removed on Monday from the Hagia Sophia Museum, formerly a basilica, then a mosque and now a museum, had been in place for 17 years. The scaffolding measured 55 meters in length and weighed 181 tons.
Speaking at a gathering held to mark the removal of the scaffolding, the chairman of the executive board of İstanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture, Şekib Avdagiç, said restoring historic buildings is a priority and that they use their budget towards that end.
“According to many, the scaffolding was an integral part of the Hagia Sophia Museum, serving as ‘decoration.’ As an agency, we completed all work and removed the scaffolding. The museum is a unique place, visited by about 2.5 million foreign tourists each year. It will become even more important a destination with the removal of the scaffolding. In addition to this, we have been working on other projects involving the museum,” Avdagiç pointed out.
Haluk Dursun, the director of Hagia Sophia Museum, stated that the building has been in existence for 1,473 years. Dursun noted that restoration continues to fix damage, underlining that removing the scaffolding is a significant and historic event.
