Çanakkale, a province with a history spanning over 5,000 years, is known for its blend of historical sites and natural beauty. The region sits on the Dardanelles, connecting the Aegean and Marmara seas, and is recognized for landmarks such as Kilitbahir Fortress, Çanakkale Martyrs’ Memorial, and the ancient city of Assos.
One of Çanakkale’s most notable attractions is the ancient city of Troy. This site gained worldwide fame through Homer’s epic “Iliad,” which tells the story of the Trojan War. According to legend, the war began when Paris of Troy took Helen from her husband Menelaus, king of Sparta. The Greeks eventually entered Troy using a wooden horse filled with soldiers, leading to the city’s downfall.
Visitors can see a replica of the Trojan horse from the 2004 film “Troy” along Çanakkale’s seaside promenade. However, those interested in deeper historical context often visit the Museum of Troy, located about 30 kilometers from Çanakkale’s center in Tevfikiye village. The museum opened in 2018 and stands just 750 meters from the UNESCO World Heritage-listed archaeological site of Troy.
The Museum of Troy features contemporary architecture with an industrial design. Its cube-shaped structure uses rust-colored weathering steel intended to evoke imagery that it was unearthed from its surroundings. The building includes four floors—the same height as Troy’s excavation depth—and offers a terrace overlooking the archaeological site.
Covering an exhibition area of 3,000 square meters within an overall space of 11,200 square meters, the museum houses more than 40,000 artefacts collected from excavations and other museums; around 2,000 are on display at any given time. Facilities include exhibition spaces accessible via an underground ramp entrance as well as a café, restaurant, and museum shop.
Exhibitions are organized across four levels: Cities of Troad (Level Z), Layers of Troy (Level 1), Ancient World (Level 2), and Excavation History (Level 3). Seven main sections provide insights into topics such as Troad Region Archaeology and Bronze Age Troy. Artefacts are supplemented by written panels, dioramas, and multimedia presentations.
On Level Z visitors find artefacts from ancient cities like Assos (Behramkale), Tenedos (Bozcaada), Parium, Alexandria Troas (Eski Stambul), Smintheion, Lampsacus (near Lapseki), Thymbra, Tavolia, and Imbros (Gökçeada). Notable displays include amphorae collections and items such as terracotta figurines and tools made from stone or bone. There are also temporary exhibitions and interactive features for children.
Level 1 focuses on six chronological layers representing different eras in Troy’s history—from Troy I through VII—highlighting changes over time with multimedia content depicting daily life activities such as masonry or pottery-making.
On Level 2 visitors encounter artefacts illustrating transitions between ages including Roman-period Ilium. Key pieces here are a statue of Emperor Hadrian; Polyxena Sarcophagus—considered Asia Minor’s earliest figural relief sarcophagus dating back to the sixth century B.C.; and a statue of Triton found in Parion in 2012. This level also includes models relating to Homer’s Iliad.
The highest floor centers on excavation history alongside displays about Troy’s role during Gallipoli battles; its presence in art; Ottoman-era Çanakkale; and lost heritage themes.
In recognition for its contributions to museology in Turkey,the Museum won both European Museum Academy (EMA) award for 2020/2021and European Museum of the Year Award (EMYA) in 2021—the first Turkish institution to receive both honors.
A museum shop offers books and souvenirs related to regional history while additional stone artefacts remain displayed outdoors for further exploration.