The Akkule Museum, located at the entrance of Famagusta Castle, which is under the control of the Department of Antiquities and Museums of the Ministry of Tourism and Environment, was opened on Saturday 27th April with a ceremony attended by President Mustafa Akıncı and his wife Meral Akıncı.
Within the scope of the improvement and conservation work financed by the European Union, Akkule Land Gate was restored by the UNDP and handed over to the Department of Antiquities and Museums, which carried out the internal arrangements and enabled the historical Akkule to come to life again.
The Akkule / Black Gate (Ravelin) will attract tourists from overseas and there will be information about the ancient structures and walls in the castle.
A large model was prepared at the entrance to the building, showing the walls and important old structures of the fortress. By placing numbers into the model, visitors will be able to track where the structure is, which date it belongs to and the information boards named after it.
On display in the building are 2 Ottoman soldiers, 2 Venetian soldiers, 1 Ottoman statue, 1 imitation Ottoman cannon and 1 imitation Venetian cannon.
It is more appropriate to exhibit sculptures and cannons which relate to military architecture and 120×400 size oil paintings are also exhibited within the building.
The display table describes the Ottoman and Venetian wars in Akkule and the coat of arms of the period on the walls and stonemason signs are described in English and Turkish with information plates.
The Akkule Museum will be open full-time on weekdays and on weekends.
Speaking at the opening, Minister of Tourism and Environment Fikri Ataoğlu explained that the Ravelin Land Gate was organised for the benefit of tourists with some arrangements after the restoration.
Ataoğlu emphasized that the city of Famagusta is integrated with historical riches, and stressed that they will continue to contribute to the city as a Ministry. He also said that one of the unique historical sites that tourists can visit is the Akkule, and that the beauty of our country should be shared.
President Mustafa Akıncı said that the city of Famagusta has a historical background and that there were traces of many civilizations. He pointed out that historical monuments have been preserved to this day and will continue to be preserved in order to share them with future generations.
After the speeches, the opening ceremony continued with the cutting of the ribbon.
