Cover A starry night shines over the Temple of Artemis, one of the world's most magnificent temples in the ancient city of Sardis, in Manisa, Turkiye, recently added to the Unesco World Heritage List. (Photo: Kamil Tekmen / Anadolu / Getty Images)
A starry night shines over the Temple of Artemis, one of the world's most magnificent temples in the ancient city of Sardis, in Manisa, Turkiye, recently added to the Unesco World Heritage List. (Photo: Kamil Tekmen / Anadolu / Getty Images)
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Türkiye expands its cultural treasures with Sardis and Lydian Tumuli of Bintepe on the Unesco World Heritage List
The ancient city of Sardis and the Lydian Tumuli of Bintepe have become Türkiye’s 22nd site inscribed on the Unesco World Heritage List. Recognised during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee in Paris in July 2025, this designation highlights the cultural and historical importance of these archaeological treasures situated in the western Turkish province of Manisa.
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Sardis was the capital of Lydia, an Iron Age civilisation noted for its wealth and pioneering role in coinage, with the world’s first minted coins believed to originate there. Its notable features include vast defensive walls and a wealth of ruins spanning Lydian, Persian, Hellenistic and Roman periods. Nearby, Bin Tepe serves as a royal necropolis holding expansive tumulus tombs, some of the largest known in the world, representing the burial traditions of the Lydian elite.
Criteria for Unesco World Heritage List inclusion
The inclusion on the Unesco World Heritage List recognises Sardis and Bin Tepe under Criterion (iii) for their outstanding testimony to the Lydian culture, which vanished millennia ago but shaped the early history of Anatolia and the broader Mediterranean. For Türkiye, this inscription is a continuation of its efforts to protect and promote its rich archaeological heritage globally, bringing the country’s total Unesco sites to 22.
Preserving the legacy of the Lydian civilisation
This recognition does not just safeguard the sites but also positions Sardis and the Lydian Tumuli for increased scholarly attention and cultural tourism. The sites now stand as part of the shared heritage of humanity, inviting visitors to engage with layers of ancient history that reflect the complex interactions of cultures and empires in this pivotal region of antiquity.
Sardis and the Lydian Tumuli of Bintepe hold invaluable archaeological and cultural significance, now formally recognised through their listing on the Unesco World Heritage List, expanding Türkiye’s prestigious portfolio within this global heritage framework. This milestone underscores the enduring legacy of the Lydian civilisation and the ongoing importance of archaeological preservation.
Chonx Tibajia is a senior editor at Tatler Asia’s T-Labs team, where she writes widely on lifestyle subjects including beauty, style, entertainment and travel. She has a long career in journalism, including roles as a columnist at The Philippine Star, and is the founder of the creative platform Pineappleversed. Beyond Tatler, her bylines appear in regional lifestyle and business publications, showcasing a broad portfolio that spans beauty trends, travel guides and culture pieces.
