At the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, held in Paris from July 6 to 16, 2025, Türkiye officially registered its 22nd site: "Ancient City of Sardis and the Lydian Tumuli of Bin Tepe," located in Manisa Province.
Sardis served as the capital of the Lydian Kingdom during the 8th to 6th centuries BCE, evolving into a formidable political hub for the first Iron Age state in the region. The Lydians are renowned for their invention of metallic coinage, their immense wealth, and a distinctive sociocultural model. The region's fame as one of Asia Minor's wealthiest areas stemmed from the gold deposits in the Pactolus River.
The city comprises three principal sections: the acropolis, a fortified centre, and adjacent settlements featuring burial mounds.
While the upper city features large walls and terraces, the lower section contains mud-brick houses, rock-cut tombs, and a gold refining workshop.
Located north of Sardis, the Bin Tepe Necropolis spans an area of 75 square kilometres and is considered one of the largest necropolises in the world, containing over 119 tumuli.
According to UNESCO criteria, this area holds exceptional cultural value, showcasing the unique architecture, religion, and social structure of the Lydian civilisation.
Sardis is also famous for housing one of the largest synagogues in the ancient world and is recognised as one of the seven Churches of the Apocalypse mentioned in the New Testament Book of Revelation.
Archaeological research and heritage preservation projects are ongoing at the Sardis and Bin Tepe sites today.
As part of the "Museum Under the Stars" program, Sardis has become one of 27 historical sites in Türkiye open for evening visits, offering tourists the opportunity to see ancient ruins in a different light.