SUNA & INAN KIRAÇ
RESEARCH INSTITUTE ON MEDITERRANEAN CIVILIZATIONS

The Suna&Inan Kiraç Research Institute on Mediterranean Civilizations, within the Vehbi Koç Foundation, is an international establishment chartered to serve the word of history, culture, and art; to encourage and support researches to investigate, document, protect, and restore the historical, archaeological, ethnographical and cultural values of Antalya and its surrounding; and to elucidate the region's deep-rooted relations with the Mediterranean region. It is also among the Institute's goals to contribute to the domains of culture and art as an organization intent on supporting such correlated activities and exhibitions.

The Institute was inaugurated on 18th May 1996 after restorations carried out on two buildings acquired on a parcel by Suna&Inan Kiraç the Old City of Antalya, an area under protection as an "Important Archaeological and Cultural Site". Later in 1999, it became a larger complex through the restoration of an adjacent old mansion of historical value.

Today, the Institute complex consists of three independent buildings, all very picturesque to behold. The first one used by the Center is a late example of a traditional two-story Turkish house in "L" form with an exterior anteroom. Then almost all in ruins, it was reconstructed according to the prerequisites of contemporary architecture for libraries and finished in a style harmonious with the traditional architecture of the Old City. The upper story of the house now holds Reading Rooms with a Rare Books and Periodicals Section and a small Conference Room; the ground level consists of the Main Library, the Administrative Office and a Recreational Courtyard.

The Institute's collection of rare books: library of works on Antiquity with emphasis on the specific geography of the region; archives of documents, photographs and transparencies are accessible for the use of resident and the guest researchers and scholars.

The Suna&Inan Kiraç Research Institute on Mediterranean Civilizations, is also fulfilling an important function with its specialized publications, in addition to such annually scheduled activities as conferences, symposiums, seminars, showing of archaeological films, exhibits and concerts.