Efforts have begun in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to preserve and digitise immovable cultural assets linked to the Ottoman Vakıf (Foundation) civilisation.
The initiative, overseen by Türkiye’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Cyprus Foundations Administration, aims to document and digitally archive the island’s Ottoman-era heritage by the end of 2025.
Under this joint effort, all immovable cultural assets across Cyprus that bear traces of the Ottoman Vakıf or Foundation civilisation will be recorded and transformed into a digital database.
The project seeks not only to safeguard historical structures but also to reinforce cultural interaction and shared historical awareness.
In a statement, the Foundations Administration said the initiative is of vital importance for the protection of historical heritage and its transmission to future generations.
The inventory work is being carried out within the framework of the 2025 Economic and Financial Cooperation Agreement signed between Türkiye and the TRNC, specifically under the article titled “Protection of Cultural Heritage.”
The completed inventory will serve as a key reference for future restoration projects and will be made publicly accessible in digital format.
