Kayseri expands Melikgazi Medrese excavation, closes Cami-i Kebir pedestrian lane

The Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality, in partnership with the General Directorate of Foundations and under the supervision of the Kayseri Museum Directorate, has widened the Melikgazi Medrese research excavation. The work, which began on 13 July 2026 at the Cami-i Kebir’s qibla side, aims to uncover one of Anatolia’s oldest Seljuk‑period madrasas and to provide new data on the city’s cultural heritage.

To ensure safety and protect the archaeological site, the pedestrian lane in front of the tomb section of Cami-i Kebir will be temporarily closed to foot traffic starting 6 August 2026. Mayor Dr. Memduh Büyükkılıç has asked residents to use alternative routes while the excavation proceeds, emphasizing the project’s importance for both urban development and the preservation of Turkish‑Islamic history.