Jointly organized by Near East University and Milta Bodrum Marina, the exhibition composed of the maps drawn by Ottoman admiral, geographer and cartographer Piri Reis opened in the southwestern Turkish province of Muğla's Bodrum district with a ceremony overseen by Irina Vlah, the president of the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia. In her statement before the ceremony, Vlah said this was the first time she visited Bodrum's first shipyard, which was built in 1775, and the archaeological site within the complex. She also expressed her gratitude to be invited to the opening ceremony of the exhibition. "I came here as the guest of Near East University. The Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia is a Turkic republic. The Republic of Turkey is our sister county, as they helped us dearly in the past. We would love to hold such as exhibition in Gagauzia," she said.

Highlighting that Bodrum is a world-renowned location, Vlah stressed, "I am really happy to be here. I am very honored." After holding a press conference, Vlah opened the exhibition "Maps of Piri Reis."

Following the opening ceremony, Girne University's Maritime History Research Center General Manager Ali Rıza İşipek offered information about the works featured at the exhibition. The exhibition displays the replications of Reis' maps, which were drawn on tile plaques. Anyone interested in maritime history can visit the exhibition and take a closer look at Ottoman maritime developments. The exhibition, which features gravures from Reis' book "Kitab-ı Bahriye," an astrolabe, and quadrant boards and replicas of 16th century navigation instruments apart from the maps of the great Ottoman mariner, will be open until July 23.