Museums affiliated with the National Palace Administration that had been temporarily closed to visitors since March 18 as part of measures taken to stop the spread of COVID-19 will reopen on June 1 and 2.
According to a written statement from the Presidential Administration of National Palaces, museums that have been temporarily closed due to coronavirus measures are being normalized.
Historic pavilions, including Topkapı Palace, Dolmabahçe Palace and Beylerbeyi Palace, which remained closed for 75 days during the pandemic, will start receiving visitors. The first visits took place on June 1 at Topkapı Palace. Dolmabahçe Palace and Beylerbeyi Palace will receive their first visitors since the pandemic began on June 2.
While some measures that secure museum visits within international museum criteria have been taken, “social distancing control labels” have been placed in museums. With these labels, from the ticket office to the end of the green spaces, social distancing is made compulsory.
As part of the measures, the body temperature of visitors will be taken at security points at the museum entrances. If the visitor does not have a mask, one will be provided by the staff of the National Palaces. Visitors with normal temperatures will be allowed through the ticket office after X-ray screening. Audio guide devices will be given to visitors in a disposable ziplock bag.
In addition, the use of masks, gloves, face shields and disinfectants is mandatory for National Palace staff who are in direct contact with visitors. Dedicated areas for coronavirus-related waste have also been set up in the open spaces of museums. Visitors can dispose of their used masks, gloves and related items only in boxes at these points.
Warnings about measures taken during the normalization process have also been added to LED screens at museum entrances. Thus, visitors are informed before starting the visit.
The disinfection plan for palaces and pavilions during the normalization process has also been revamped. In this context, the interior and exterior spaces will be disinfected daily.
