Turkey Guide
The Mediterranean coast and the Hatay
Mediterranean Civilisations Research Institute
Address: Right off Hesapçı Sokak, on Kocatepe Sokak
Opening time: Mon– Sat 9am–5.30pm
Price: 1.5YTL
The well-signposted Mediterranean Civilisations Research Institute is set in two restored Ottoman houses built around courtyard gardens. Behind one house is the restored garden church of St George, which is used for exhibitions often made up of items from the private collection of the Koç family, Turkey's richest, who sponsor the institute. The second house contains a marvellous library of books on archeology and antiquities; treasures include original editions of the engravings made by the archeologist-cum-explorer Texier when he investigated Asia Minor for the French government in the 1840s. There are also excellent reference materials and yearbooks on local archeological activities and projects sponsored by the institute. Experts will want to spend some time here nosing through the rarities, but even amateurs will find the English-speaking archeological staff helpful in finding books about local sites.