Ankara  - The city of Bergama in western Turkey has just made a fortified tower dating back to the ancient Roman era accessible to the public after three years of restoration work.

The 13-metre-high round tower was built in the second century A. D. and according to the German Archaeology Institute (DAI) in Berlin is one of the best preserved Roman domed constructions in existence. "There is nothing like this to be found in the eastern Mediterranean region," says archaeologist Felis Pirson.

The DAI has been working to restore the structure since 2006 and cooperated on the project with Germany's Foreign Ministry and the Studiosus Foundation. Before work began the tower was in a "highly dangerous state." (dpa)