Istanbul Airport, Turkey ‘s largest airport, has inaugurated its first museum, which aims to turn the terminal into a cultural centre.

“We are continuing our efforts with this mindset to transform the time spent at the airport into a unique travel experience.

According to Samsunlu, airports have an important position in people’s minds, because they are the first stop before they explore new destinations, Xinhua news agency said.

“We want Istanbul Airport to become a centre where culture and art meet,” Kadri Samsunlu, CEO of the airport, said in a statement on Friday.

“We aim to make our passengers get rid of travel stress by shifting their focus onto art and culture, and thus enjoy a nice and memorable travel experience,” he added.

The collection includes many highly valuable objects including the Kadesh Treaty, the first recorded peace treaty in history, some kaftans belonging to the Ottoman Sultans, and several other items from the Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk, and Ottoman times.

Constructed on an area of more than 1,000 square metres, the museum also provides introductory information on 18 UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Sites in Turkey.

Turkey partially resumed international flights on June 11 which had been suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic for nearly two months.