Historical sites are places that are considered the common heritage of humanity. Historical sites are places that are included in almost every tourist's travel plan both in Turkey and abroad.

 

Historical sites, which fascinate us with their beauty and sometimes help us feel an important event, are protected strictly both by their countries and through various International Organizations. 

 

However, much of the task to protect historical sites is the responsibility of the tourists who visit them. If we want to preserve this cultural heritage for future generations, there are certain rules that we must follow during our visit.

 

1. Please Do not Take Any Historical Object from Historical Places, Even For Memory

 

One of the most common problems encountered in historical sites is that visitors take any object from that point. It is especially possible to come across tourists who try to take a small piece from architectural monuments.

 

Most of the holy places are also considered to be historical sites. In particular, it is completely forbidden to take pieces of stone or soil from places of historical importance, such as cemeteries. However, this well-intentioned approach can cause unrepairable damage to historical heritages, even though many tourists say they do it for the sake of getting a memorial souvenir.

 

2. Please Do Not Litter Around in Historical Places

 

One of the most common warnings you will frequently encounter on tourist visits is the expression "Do not throw garbage on the ground". Especially in historical sites known as historical ruins, the problem of littering sometimes reaches unmanageable proportions.

 

Litter thrown on the place causes contamination of the surrounding environment and litter such as glass or paper can ignite due to the high temperature and damage the ruins and cause the destruction of historical sites.

 

3. Please Do not Fire in Historical Places

 

Making fire is generally quite risky. Especially lighting a fire at historical sites directly puts this whole area at risk.

 

For precisely this reason, lighting a fire at almost every historical site is prohibited. Therefore, you should not light a fire around a historical site and report the situation to the authorities when you see someone lighting a fire.

 

4. Please Do Not Climb or Destroy Any Historical Objects/Structures

 

One of the favorite moments of tourist trips is taking photos. Countless photos are taken throughout the trip to make the trip immortal. 

 

As social media is also influential, we share these photos on our social media accounts as soon as possible.

 

One of the most important rules is not to climb on or damage historical monuments for the sake of taking better photos.

 

5. Please Do Not Touch Any Historical Objects/Structures

 

There are many museums and ruins containing historical artifacts both in Turkey and in various countries. Today, in all museums, historical artifacts are protected with glass cases.

 

However, the objects that cannot be placed in glass cabinets are exhibited openly at the museum. Touching these objects may cause deform the texture of the historical artifact. Therefore, you need to visit these artifacts without touching them.

 

6. Please Do not Paint, Write or Scratch on Any Historical Objects and Structures

 

Writing and drawing on monuments and historical buildings are one of the main reasons why many historical heritages have been irreversibly damaged.

 

Although some violate this rule for religious and cultural reasons, writing and drawing are completely forbidden because of the damage it causes to historical monuments. 

 

You should follow this rule and report to the authorities when you see someone damaging historical monuments in this way.

 

7. Attention Please! Strolling around Narrow Crowded Places with Bulky Bags or Backpacks Might Fall Down an Object Scratch a Mural or Ruin It

 

One of the causes of damage to many historical artifacts in open-air museums and ruins is damaged backpacks. 

 

Especially when visiting historical sites, make sure that your backpack does not scratch anything in narrow and crowded areas. While passing through crowded areas, your backpack may cause a scratch on a historical wall or hit an object on display and cause damage.

 

8. Please Do not Enter the Mosque with Shoes and Close Your Hair with a Scarf

 

Especially when you go abroad, it is important to follow certain principles when visiting a historical site belonging to a different culture and belief. You should act respectfully, especially when visiting monuments that have been traumatized in the memories of societies.

 

On the other hand, when visiting historical sites of religious importance, you need to act both respectfully and in accordance with the rules of that belief. For example, when visiting mosques and mausoleums, you should wear a dress suitable for hijab.

 

We have mentioned the general rules that local and foreign tourists should follow during their visits to historical touristic sites. You should also take care not to follow these rules during your tourist trips and avoid damaging historical textures. 

 

Everyone must have the maximum awareness in order to transfer these world heritages, which are protected as much as possible by institutions and transferred to the present day, to the next generations in all their beauty.