Turkey: Italian travel agents in awe before Gobeklitepe

By Rauf Maltas

SANLIURFA, Turkey (AA) - An Italian tourism delegation was amazed by Gobeklitepe in southeastern Turkey, the site of the world’s oldest temple.

Representatives of Italy's top ten travel agencies have visited and examined the historical site in the southeastern Turkish province of Sanliurfa following from its Culture and Tourism Directorate.

Bruno Alegi, spokesman of the delegation, told reporters on Friday that the site -- built 7,000 years before the oldest Egyptian pyramid -- was of great importance.

"When I first saw, I could not believe. I did not think it would be such beautiful," Alegi said.

He said Gobeklitepe deserved to be added permanently to the UNESCO World Heritage List

Alegi added: "It is really hard to compare Gobeklitepe with other candidate sites."

Gobeklitepe is on the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites and is recognized as the oldest temple in the world by many international organizations.

During preparations for its candidacy, a 4,000-square-meter steel roof was erected to protect the site.

After being temporarily closed to visits due to work on its new roof, Gobeklitepe partially reopened in February.