Fatih
General Information
District: Istanbul, State: Marmara Region, Turkey
Area: 0 km²
Languages Spoken: Turkish
Long Distance Code: (+90) 0212
Best Time to Visit: May to August
International Access: Istanbul Atatürk International Airport (IST)
Topkapi was the first Ottoman palace to be built (1466-1478) in the newly conquered capital of the Empire by Mehmet II. Located on the spot where the foundations of the city were first laid in ancient times by Megarian Chief Byzas in the 7th century BC, the palace boasts one of the most beautiful views of Istanbul, incorporating the Bosphorus, the Golden Horn, the two shores and the sea of Marmara. Unlike the European palaces, Topkapi is not a single monumental structure but a more organic complex made up of various kiosks, gardens and areas spread over the tip of the historical peninsula at the entry of the Golden Horn. Topkapi Palace served as the residence of Ottoman sultans for about 400 years, until Abdulmecid built the Dolmabahce Palace. In its hey-days, there were between 8-10 thousand people living in the palace, mostly being the Janissaries.
It was turned into a museum in 1924 and has become one of the most attractive palace-museums in the world. The most attractive exhibition halls of the palace are: treasury, Islamic holly relics, costumes of the sultans, divan, harem, kitchens, Chinese porcelains and several kiosks such as the Baghdad, Revan, Sofa and Mecidiye. There are appealing eating and resting facilities for visitors on the palace grounds with a great view.
Closed On: Tuesday
Timings: 09:00-17:00
Remarks: Address: Sultanahmet, Eminönü Istanbul Phone : +90 212 512 0480 Fax : +90 212 528 59 91
It was turned into a museum in 1924 and has become one of the most attractive palace-museums in the world. The most attractive exhibition halls of the palace are: treasury, Islamic holly relics, costumes of the sultans, divan, harem, kitchens, Chinese porcelains and several kiosks such as the Baghdad, Revan, Sofa and Mecidiye. There are appealing eating and resting facilities for visitors on the palace grounds with a great view.
Closed On: Tuesday
Timings: 09:00-17:00
Remarks: Address: Sultanahmet, Eminönü Istanbul Phone : +90 212 512 0480 Fax : +90 212 528 59 91
Hagia Sophia is considered a unique monument in world architecture, and its magnificence and functionality has been a good example in construction of countless Ottoman mosques. Hagia Sophia with its exceptional history constitutes a synthesis between east and west. This monument is one of the wonders of the world that has remained intact until the present day. One can find many attractions in Hagia Sophia – interesting forms of Byzantine architecture, mosaics of the Christian period as well as structures added during the Ottoman era.
Hagia Sophia has been a Christian place of worship for 916 years, then converted into a mosque and served Muslims for 481 years. Hagia Sophia Museum was opened in 1935 and ever since it has been attracting thousands of visitors every year.
According to Byzantine historians (Theophanes, Nikephoros, Grammarian Leon) the first building of Hagia Sophia church was established during the reign of Constantius I (324 – 337 AD). It was a basilica with a wooden roof, and it was burned down during a revolt. Nowadays there is no evidence of this structure.
During the reign of emperor Theodosius Hagia Sophia was built for the second time and opened to the public in 415 AD. The basilica was again burned down during the Nika Revolt in 532 AD. Some ruins of this building were discovered during excavations in 1936. There were stairs indicating the entrance of the building, columns, capitals and other fragments of the building.
Emperor Justinian (527 – 565 AD) wanted to build a church bigger than two previous ones, which would represent the power and magnificence of empire. The new building of Hagia Sophia was designed by two famous architects of that era – Isidoros from Miletos and Anthemios of Tralles. Many columns, capitals, marble and colourful stone were brought to Istanbul from various ancient cities in Anatolia and used in construction works of Hagia Sophia.
The works were commenced on December 23, 532 AD and completed on December 27, 537. The new building consisted of a large central nave and two side aisles, separated by columns, apse, inner and outer narthex. The size of the inner space of basilica is 100 X 70m and it is covered by the magnificent dome (diametre 30.31 m), supported by the four large piers, 55 m high.
Besides the unique architecture of the building, the mosaics are also important artefacts of the period. The oldest mosaics – gold gilded with geometrical and floral designs - may be found in the inner narthex as well as in side naves. Figural mosaics (with images of Jesus Christ, Virgine Maria etc.) from 9th – 12th centuries are located on Emperor Door, apse, exit doors and upstairs gallery.
After the conquest of Istanbul in 1453, the so-called “Turkish period” started, and several repairs were made in Hagia Sophia. The art works surrounding the mihrab includes the best samples of Turkish pottery and calligraphy. The sure is taken from the Koran inscribed on rounded plates of 7.50 m diametre by Kazasker Mustafa İzzet Efendi, a famous Ottoman calligrapher. The names of Allah, Muhammed, Ömer, Osman, Ali, Hasan, Ebu Bekir and Hüseyin are inscribed there. On the sidewalls of mihrab there are plates written and granted by Ottoman sultans.
Tombs of Sultan Selim II, Sultan Mehmet III, Sultan Murat III as well as some of their relatives, fountain of Sultan Mahmut I, primary school, soup kitchen, library, Sultan Abdülmecit''s meeting place and the mosque timekeeper’s (astronomer’s) house may be found in the territory of Hagia Sophia Museum. All of the above mentioned objects, especially the tombs with their interior design, pottery and architecture are excellent examples of Ottoman tradition.
Timings: 09:30-16:30
Remarks: Address: Hagia Sophia Museum Sultanahmet 34400 Istanbul, Turkey Phone: +90 212 5221750 - +90 212 5220989 Fax: +90 212 5125474 Email: ayasofyamuzesi@hotmail.com
Hagia Sophia has been a Christian place of worship for 916 years, then converted into a mosque and served Muslims for 481 years. Hagia Sophia Museum was opened in 1935 and ever since it has been attracting thousands of visitors every year.
According to Byzantine historians (Theophanes, Nikephoros, Grammarian Leon) the first building of Hagia Sophia church was established during the reign of Constantius I (324 – 337 AD). It was a basilica with a wooden roof, and it was burned down during a revolt. Nowadays there is no evidence of this structure.
During the reign of emperor Theodosius Hagia Sophia was built for the second time and opened to the public in 415 AD. The basilica was again burned down during the Nika Revolt in 532 AD. Some ruins of this building were discovered during excavations in 1936. There were stairs indicating the entrance of the building, columns, capitals and other fragments of the building.
Emperor Justinian (527 – 565 AD) wanted to build a church bigger than two previous ones, which would represent the power and magnificence of empire. The new building of Hagia Sophia was designed by two famous architects of that era – Isidoros from Miletos and Anthemios of Tralles. Many columns, capitals, marble and colourful stone were brought to Istanbul from various ancient cities in Anatolia and used in construction works of Hagia Sophia.
The works were commenced on December 23, 532 AD and completed on December 27, 537. The new building consisted of a large central nave and two side aisles, separated by columns, apse, inner and outer narthex. The size of the inner space of basilica is 100 X 70m and it is covered by the magnificent dome (diametre 30.31 m), supported by the four large piers, 55 m high.
Besides the unique architecture of the building, the mosaics are also important artefacts of the period. The oldest mosaics – gold gilded with geometrical and floral designs - may be found in the inner narthex as well as in side naves. Figural mosaics (with images of Jesus Christ, Virgine Maria etc.) from 9th – 12th centuries are located on Emperor Door, apse, exit doors and upstairs gallery.
After the conquest of Istanbul in 1453, the so-called “Turkish period” started, and several repairs were made in Hagia Sophia. The art works surrounding the mihrab includes the best samples of Turkish pottery and calligraphy. The sure is taken from the Koran inscribed on rounded plates of 7.50 m diametre by Kazasker Mustafa İzzet Efendi, a famous Ottoman calligrapher. The names of Allah, Muhammed, Ömer, Osman, Ali, Hasan, Ebu Bekir and Hüseyin are inscribed there. On the sidewalls of mihrab there are plates written and granted by Ottoman sultans.
Tombs of Sultan Selim II, Sultan Mehmet III, Sultan Murat III as well as some of their relatives, fountain of Sultan Mahmut I, primary school, soup kitchen, library, Sultan Abdülmecit''s meeting place and the mosque timekeeper’s (astronomer’s) house may be found in the territory of Hagia Sophia Museum. All of the above mentioned objects, especially the tombs with their interior design, pottery and architecture are excellent examples of Ottoman tradition.
Timings: 09:30-16:30
Remarks: Address: Hagia Sophia Museum Sultanahmet 34400 Istanbul, Turkey Phone: +90 212 5221750 - +90 212 5220989 Fax: +90 212 5125474 Email: ayasofyamuzesi@hotmail.com
The Istanbul Archaeological Museums, a museum affiliated to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, is located in Istanbul''s Sultanahmet neighborhood, on the Osman Hamdi Bey slope connecting the Gülhane Park with the Topkapi Palace. Its name is plural, since there are three different museums under the same administration: The Archaeological Museum, the Ancient Orient Museum (Eski Sark Eserleri Müzesi) and Tiled Kiosk Museum (Cinili Kösk Müzesi).
During an Istanbul Archaeological Museums tour, it is possible to visit the extraordinarily beautiful garden of the museum and the three different buildings inside this garden.
The İstanbul Archaeological Museums, which is housing various artifacts from civilizations that had left their traces to different periods of the history, is one of the 10 most important world-class museums designed and used as a museum building. Additionally, it is the first institution in Turkey arranged as a museum. Besides its spectacular collections, the architectural aspects of its buildings and its garden are of historical and natural importance.
The Istanbul Archaeological Museums is welcoming all visitors who want to make a journey in the corridors of the history and to trace the remains of ancient civilizations.
Closed On: Monday
Timings: 09:00-17:00
Remarks: Address: İstanbul Arkeoloji Müzeleri Alemdar Cad. Osman Hamdi Bey Yokusu Sk, 34122, Gülhane / Fatih, İSTANBUL Phone: +90 212 520 77 40 - 41 Fax: +90 212 527 43 00 Email: info@istanbularkeoloji.gov.tr
During an Istanbul Archaeological Museums tour, it is possible to visit the extraordinarily beautiful garden of the museum and the three different buildings inside this garden.
The İstanbul Archaeological Museums, which is housing various artifacts from civilizations that had left their traces to different periods of the history, is one of the 10 most important world-class museums designed and used as a museum building. Additionally, it is the first institution in Turkey arranged as a museum. Besides its spectacular collections, the architectural aspects of its buildings and its garden are of historical and natural importance.
The Istanbul Archaeological Museums is welcoming all visitors who want to make a journey in the corridors of the history and to trace the remains of ancient civilizations.
Closed On: Monday
Timings: 09:00-17:00
Remarks: Address: İstanbul Arkeoloji Müzeleri Alemdar Cad. Osman Hamdi Bey Yokusu Sk, 34122, Gülhane / Fatih, İSTANBUL Phone: +90 212 520 77 40 - 41 Fax: +90 212 527 43 00 Email: info@istanbularkeoloji.gov.tr
1001 Direk Cistern exists under a small public square upper side of Justice Palace in Sultanahmet.
According to Byzantium resources, The Binbirdirek Cistern was constructed in the fourth century as the second biggest water reservoir in Istanbul after Bazalika Cistern (Yerebatan Palace). These resources say that when 1. Constantinus settled the city, he forced to migrate some of his senates from Rome to here. One of them was Philoxenus Palace, and he has built this Cistern in the aim of providing the necessary water to this palace which was built as a neighbour of hippodrome. As Patria Konstantinopoleos, one of the sources giving information about the topography of the city of Byzantium period, Philoxenus Palace was near to Lausus Palace and was neighbour to Constantinus forum. There is no doubt that this forum is in Çemberlitaş. It’s known that Lausus Palace is also at the same surrounding, so Binbirdirek Cistern is belong to Philoxenus Palace, or most probably to Lausus Palace.
It is estimated that when the Turkish Period beginned, there was no water in the Cistern. German traveller R. Lubenau who has come to İstanbul in the 16th century, notifies that workers were processing yarn of silk in the cistern. However, there are somebody written that there was water in the cistern in the 18th century. It’s known that in Ottoman period, some big mansions were built on top of the cistern. One of them was Fazlı Paşa who has built a magnificent palace and put 1.Ahmet up in it. The Palace was burnt in 1960 Ayazmakapı Fire, afterwards another wooden mansion was built instead of it; that mansion which was also used as a financial office, was burnt in Hocapaşa fire. After these mansions, Binbirdirek Cistern stayed with an empty area upper side; however it was used as a warehouse of neighbourhood bazaar that was settled upper side public place.
According to what R.Ekrem Koçu wrote, in “Tayyarzade” titled folk tale which had been, firstly, published in 1290-1873, a happening is narrated which was during the imperial of IV.Murad (1623-1640) in the 17th century. This tale is concerned as a “meddah story” (traditional story teller), belonging to the eighteenth century. In this tale, it is hold how Fazlı Paşa’s overage daughter Gevherli Hanım and one of her beautiful and young female slave had attracted rich people, captured them in this cistern, and how they killed them after getting their possessions. Though, this 30-40 paged tale’s accuracy is not certain.
Since there was no water inside of the Binbirdirek Cistern, it was used by the silk and yarn producers as an atelier in the seventeenth century. Moreover, the gravure drawn by Thomas Allom in 1840s that shows the daily life of the workers, proves the fact. After the mansion on the cistern was destroyed, several passages were opened by drilling some of the vaults in the aim of letting some light and air into the cistern.
For the first time, the plan of Binbirdirek Cistern was published by the famous Austrian architect Fiseher von Erlach (1656 – 1723), which was based on the drawings he has gotten from Swedish engineer Cornelius Ioos.The Binbirdirek Cistern is a massive reservoir that is surrounded with a thick wall all around. Inside the cistern there were 224 columns (16 rows x14 columns) with the dimensions of 64m, 56m, 40m. Today, you can see only 212 of them exist. The gap between the two columns is 3.75m and the columns are connected to each other with arches which carry the transversal vaults. The columns are formed by overlapping two different bodies of pillars and between these two parts, an overflowing wheel was placed. On the body of the columns, there are pyramid shaped headings -which were not ornamented- show that these pillars were constructed for this cistern specially, instead of being brought from somewhere else. The arches are connected to each other with wooden stretchers which were on the headings. Today, it is only possible to see the holes of these stretchers.
The name of the Turkish period of the cistern maybe would come from a word “binbir” which means abundance, or as a claim of somebody maybe the name would come from the word “bindir” because the body of the columns exists one on the top of the other. The lower parts of the columns have buried nearly 5m. into the ground. Actually, completely height of the supports are 12,50m. The vaults, at the corner of the left side of todays entrance of the cistern, were demolished and so 18 sections had filled that were here. It attracts attention that too many Greek letters have performed on the body of the columns. It’s known that these are the signs of the stoneworkers who performed the columns and worked by building the cistern.
Timings: 09:00-19:00
Remarks: Address: Imran Öktem Cad. Binbirdirek Mah. Binbirdirek Sarnici Sultanahmet - Fatih - Istanbul Phone: +90 (533) 204 1001 Phone: +90 (212) 518 1001 Fax: +90 (212) 518 1001 Email: info@binbirdirek.com
According to Byzantium resources, The Binbirdirek Cistern was constructed in the fourth century as the second biggest water reservoir in Istanbul after Bazalika Cistern (Yerebatan Palace). These resources say that when 1. Constantinus settled the city, he forced to migrate some of his senates from Rome to here. One of them was Philoxenus Palace, and he has built this Cistern in the aim of providing the necessary water to this palace which was built as a neighbour of hippodrome. As Patria Konstantinopoleos, one of the sources giving information about the topography of the city of Byzantium period, Philoxenus Palace was near to Lausus Palace and was neighbour to Constantinus forum. There is no doubt that this forum is in Çemberlitaş. It’s known that Lausus Palace is also at the same surrounding, so Binbirdirek Cistern is belong to Philoxenus Palace, or most probably to Lausus Palace.
It is estimated that when the Turkish Period beginned, there was no water in the Cistern. German traveller R. Lubenau who has come to İstanbul in the 16th century, notifies that workers were processing yarn of silk in the cistern. However, there are somebody written that there was water in the cistern in the 18th century. It’s known that in Ottoman period, some big mansions were built on top of the cistern. One of them was Fazlı Paşa who has built a magnificent palace and put 1.Ahmet up in it. The Palace was burnt in 1960 Ayazmakapı Fire, afterwards another wooden mansion was built instead of it; that mansion which was also used as a financial office, was burnt in Hocapaşa fire. After these mansions, Binbirdirek Cistern stayed with an empty area upper side; however it was used as a warehouse of neighbourhood bazaar that was settled upper side public place.
According to what R.Ekrem Koçu wrote, in “Tayyarzade” titled folk tale which had been, firstly, published in 1290-1873, a happening is narrated which was during the imperial of IV.Murad (1623-1640) in the 17th century. This tale is concerned as a “meddah story” (traditional story teller), belonging to the eighteenth century. In this tale, it is hold how Fazlı Paşa’s overage daughter Gevherli Hanım and one of her beautiful and young female slave had attracted rich people, captured them in this cistern, and how they killed them after getting their possessions. Though, this 30-40 paged tale’s accuracy is not certain.
Since there was no water inside of the Binbirdirek Cistern, it was used by the silk and yarn producers as an atelier in the seventeenth century. Moreover, the gravure drawn by Thomas Allom in 1840s that shows the daily life of the workers, proves the fact. After the mansion on the cistern was destroyed, several passages were opened by drilling some of the vaults in the aim of letting some light and air into the cistern.
For the first time, the plan of Binbirdirek Cistern was published by the famous Austrian architect Fiseher von Erlach (1656 – 1723), which was based on the drawings he has gotten from Swedish engineer Cornelius Ioos.The Binbirdirek Cistern is a massive reservoir that is surrounded with a thick wall all around. Inside the cistern there were 224 columns (16 rows x14 columns) with the dimensions of 64m, 56m, 40m. Today, you can see only 212 of them exist. The gap between the two columns is 3.75m and the columns are connected to each other with arches which carry the transversal vaults. The columns are formed by overlapping two different bodies of pillars and between these two parts, an overflowing wheel was placed. On the body of the columns, there are pyramid shaped headings -which were not ornamented- show that these pillars were constructed for this cistern specially, instead of being brought from somewhere else. The arches are connected to each other with wooden stretchers which were on the headings. Today, it is only possible to see the holes of these stretchers.
The name of the Turkish period of the cistern maybe would come from a word “binbir” which means abundance, or as a claim of somebody maybe the name would come from the word “bindir” because the body of the columns exists one on the top of the other. The lower parts of the columns have buried nearly 5m. into the ground. Actually, completely height of the supports are 12,50m. The vaults, at the corner of the left side of todays entrance of the cistern, were demolished and so 18 sections had filled that were here. It attracts attention that too many Greek letters have performed on the body of the columns. It’s known that these are the signs of the stoneworkers who performed the columns and worked by building the cistern.
Timings: 09:00-19:00
Remarks: Address: Imran Öktem Cad. Binbirdirek Mah. Binbirdirek Sarnici Sultanahmet - Fatih - Istanbul Phone: +90 (533) 204 1001 Phone: +90 (212) 518 1001 Fax: +90 (212) 518 1001 Email: info@binbirdirek.com
The Kariye Museum (Church of the Holy Savior in Chora), 5 km (3 miles) northwest of Sultanahmet near the Byzantine city walls (map), has the best Byzantine mosaics in the region. If you can spare two hours, you must see them. (Note: the museum is closed Wednesday.)
As the Kariye/Chora Church is out-of-the-way, one of the best ways to visit is on a half-day Istanbul city tour that also visits the nearby city walls, Mihrimah Sultan Mosque, Tekfur Sarayı, Yedikule, etc. More...
Originally built in the 4th century as the ''Church of the Holy Savior Outside the Walls'' or ''in the Country'' (chora), it was indeed outside the walls built by Constantine the Great.
The building you see was built in the late 11th century, with lots of repairs and restructuring in the following centuries. Virtually all of the interior decoration—the famous mosaics and the less renowned but equally striking mural paintings—dates from about 1320.
The mosaics are breathtaking. The first ones are those of the dedication, to Jesus and Mary. Then come the offertory ones: Theodore Metochites, builder of the church, offering it to Jesus.
The two small domes of the inner narthex have portraits of all Jesus''s ancestors back to Adam. A series outlines Mary''s life, and another, Jesus''s early years. Yet another series concentrates on Jesus''s ministry.
In the nave are three mosaics: of Jesus, of Mary as Teacher, and of the Dormition of Mary (turn around to see this one-it''s over the main door you just entered).
South of the nave is the Parecclesion, a side chapel built to hold the tombs of the church''s founder and relatives. The frescos, appropriately, deal with the theme of death and resurrection.
The church was enclosed within the walls built by the Emperor Theodosius II in 413, less than 100 years after Constantine, so the church ''outside the walls'' has in fact been ''in the city'' for 1550 years.
For four centuries after the Ottoman conquest of Istanbul it served as a mosque (Kariye Camii), and is now a museum (Kariye Müzesi) because of its priceless mosaics.
To get to the Kariye Museum (closed Wednesday), if you don''t take an Istanbul city tour, a taxi is easiest but most expensive.
You can save money (but not time) by taking any bus that stops at Edirnekapı.
When you reach Edirnekapı, ask for directions by saying Kariye (KAH-ree-yeh) to anyone you see. The museum is only a five-minute walk east of the boulevard. Neighborhood people will happily point the way through the maze of tiny streets.
On the south side of the Kariye Müzesi is the Kariye Oteli, housed in a renovated Ottoman mansion. Asitane (AH-see-TAH-neh, an Ottoman sobriquet for Istanbul), the hotel''s garden restaurant, features fine Ottoman cuisine and excellent service in a refined atmosphere, at suitably lofty prices.
The building facing the Kariye Museum was once the Kariye Muhallebicisi or Pudding Shop, an old Istanbul institution. It now serves a variety of refreshments.
Closed On: Wednesday
Timings: 09:00-16:30
Remarks: Address: Edirnekapi- Fatih/ISTANBUL Phone: +90 (212) 631 92 41–0 (212) 522 09 89 Fax: +90 (212) 621 34 35
As the Kariye/Chora Church is out-of-the-way, one of the best ways to visit is on a half-day Istanbul city tour that also visits the nearby city walls, Mihrimah Sultan Mosque, Tekfur Sarayı, Yedikule, etc. More...
Originally built in the 4th century as the ''Church of the Holy Savior Outside the Walls'' or ''in the Country'' (chora), it was indeed outside the walls built by Constantine the Great.
The building you see was built in the late 11th century, with lots of repairs and restructuring in the following centuries. Virtually all of the interior decoration—the famous mosaics and the less renowned but equally striking mural paintings—dates from about 1320.
The mosaics are breathtaking. The first ones are those of the dedication, to Jesus and Mary. Then come the offertory ones: Theodore Metochites, builder of the church, offering it to Jesus.
The two small domes of the inner narthex have portraits of all Jesus''s ancestors back to Adam. A series outlines Mary''s life, and another, Jesus''s early years. Yet another series concentrates on Jesus''s ministry.
In the nave are three mosaics: of Jesus, of Mary as Teacher, and of the Dormition of Mary (turn around to see this one-it''s over the main door you just entered).
South of the nave is the Parecclesion, a side chapel built to hold the tombs of the church''s founder and relatives. The frescos, appropriately, deal with the theme of death and resurrection.
The church was enclosed within the walls built by the Emperor Theodosius II in 413, less than 100 years after Constantine, so the church ''outside the walls'' has in fact been ''in the city'' for 1550 years.
For four centuries after the Ottoman conquest of Istanbul it served as a mosque (Kariye Camii), and is now a museum (Kariye Müzesi) because of its priceless mosaics.
To get to the Kariye Museum (closed Wednesday), if you don''t take an Istanbul city tour, a taxi is easiest but most expensive.
You can save money (but not time) by taking any bus that stops at Edirnekapı.
When you reach Edirnekapı, ask for directions by saying Kariye (KAH-ree-yeh) to anyone you see. The museum is only a five-minute walk east of the boulevard. Neighborhood people will happily point the way through the maze of tiny streets.
On the south side of the Kariye Müzesi is the Kariye Oteli, housed in a renovated Ottoman mansion. Asitane (AH-see-TAH-neh, an Ottoman sobriquet for Istanbul), the hotel''s garden restaurant, features fine Ottoman cuisine and excellent service in a refined atmosphere, at suitably lofty prices.
The building facing the Kariye Museum was once the Kariye Muhallebicisi or Pudding Shop, an old Istanbul institution. It now serves a variety of refreshments.
Closed On: Wednesday
Timings: 09:00-16:30
Remarks: Address: Edirnekapi- Fatih/ISTANBUL Phone: +90 (212) 631 92 41–0 (212) 522 09 89 Fax: +90 (212) 621 34 35
Turkish and Islamic Works Museum is the first Turkish museum covering the Turkish and Islamic art works wholly. The establishment works that have been started at the end of the 19th century have been completed in 1913 and the museum has been opened for visit in the soup kitchen building located in Süleymaniye Mosque complex, which is one of the most important works of Mimar Sinan, with the name of "Evkaf - ı İslamiyet Müzesi" (Islamic Foundations Museum). After the announcement of the republic, it has taken the name "Turkish and Islamic Works Museum".
The museum has been moved to İbrahim Pasha Palace from the soup kitchen building in 1983. Ibrahim Pasha Palace, which is one of the most important samples of the 16th century Ottoman civil architecture samples is on the stages of the historical hippodrome, the history of which goes back to the Roman Period. This building, the precise construction reason and date are not known, has been presented to İbrahim Pasha by Kanuni Sultan Süleyman in 1520, who would be his grand vizier for 13 years.
İbrahim Pasha Palace, which is claimed to be bigger and more magnificent than Topkapı Palace by the history has been the stage of many weddings, feasts and celebrations as well as rebellions and turmoil and called with the name of İbrahim Pasha after the death of this person in 1536. It has been used by other grand viziers, and had functions such as barracks, embassy palace, register office, Janissary band house, sewing workshop and prison.
The palace located around four big internal courtyards has been made of stone in contrast with many Ottoman civil buildings, most of which are wooden, therefore it could reach today and has been repaired between the years 1966 - 1983 and has been born again as the new building of Turkish and Islamic Works Museum. The section, which is used as a museum today, is the big ceremony hall of the palace and the 2nd courtyard surrounding it, which have been the subject of all Ottoman miniatures of the palace and the gravures and tables of Western artists.
Turkish and Islamic Works Museum has been awarded with the Special Jury Award of Museum of the Year Competition of the European Council in 1984 and with the prize given by European Council - Unesco for its studies for making the children love the culture inheritance.
Turkish and Islamic Works Museum, that is among the important museums of the world in its class has works from almost all periods and all types of Islamic art with its collection exceeding forty thousand works.
Carpet Section
The carpet section forming the richest collection of carpet art in the world had a separate importance and caused the museum''s being famous as a "Carpet Museum" for long years. The museum has the richest carpet collection of not only Turkey, but also the world. Besides rare Seljuk carpets, prayer rugs and animal figured carpets belonging to the 15th centuries and the carpets produced in Anatolia between the 15th - 17th centuries and called as "Holbein Carpet" in the West inspired by the geometrically figures or kufi writing are the most valuable parts of this section.
Turkish and Islamic Works Museum carpet collection that became richer with Iranian and Caucasian carpets and famous Uşak and palace carpet samples is a reference, which the ones carrying out a serious research on the carpet art in the world must apply to.
Hand Writings and Calligraphy Section
Koran - ı Kerims constituting a big part of the writing collection of Turkish and Islamic Works Museum from the 7th century to the 20th century come from a large geographical region where Islam has spread over.
It is one of the rare collections, where Emevi, Abbasi, Egypt and Syria Tulunoğulları, Fatımi, Eyyubi, Memluk, Moğol, Türkmen, Seljuk, Timuri, Safavi, Kaçar and Anatolian Principalities and Ottoman calligraphy creations can be observed all together.
Among the hand writings, except Korans, there are books (some of them with pictures) written about various subjects and these draw attention both in terms of their writing styles and their coatings.
Imperial edicts, warrants bearing the signatures of Ottoman sultans, the sultan''s signatures each of which is a work of art, Turkish and Iranian miniature writings make Turkish and Islamic Works Museum one of the most important museums of the world.
Section of Wooden Works
The most important parts of this collection are the samples of Anatolian Wood art of the 9th - 10th century. Besides the unique parts that remained from the Anatolian Seljuks and principalities, mother - of - pearl, ivory, tortoiseshell ornamented wooden works of the Ottoman Period, unique samples of inlaying art, Koran part cases, bookrests, drawers are the interesting parts of this rich collection.
Stone Art Section
Stone works belonging to Emevi, Abbasi, Memluk, Seljuk, Ottoman periods, some of which have motifs and some of which have figures, but all of which have writings have been gathered in Turkish and Islamic Works Museum. Unique and elite samples of stone art of Seljuk Period, grave stones on which hunting scenes, fairy creatures such as sphinx, griphon, dragon, early - period stone works with kufi writings, inscriptions written in different methods that are projections of Ottoman calligraphy art are important both in quality and in quantity.
Section of Ceramic and Glass
In this collection consisting mostly of the ceramic works found in the excavations made between 1908 - 14, the ones from Samarra, Rakka, Tel Halep, Keşan are in the first ranks.
It is possible to see the stages of Early - Islamic Period ceramic art in the collection of Turkish and Islamic Works Museum. The mosaic, mihrab and wall encaustic tile samples belonging to the Anatolian Principalities and Seljuk Periods and the plaster ornaments of Konya Kılıçaslan Palace constitute another important part of the collection. Ottoman encaustic tile and ceramic art samples end with near - period Kütahya and Çanakkale ceramics.
The glass collection starts with the 9th century Islamic glass art samples and includes the 15th century Memluk candles, Ottoman period glass art samples.
Metal Art Section
Turkish and Islamic Works Museum Metal Art Collection starting with the unique samples belonging to the Great Seljuk Empire period and mortar, censer, long - spouted ewer, mirror and dirhems constitute an important collection with the door knockers of Cizre Ulu Mosque and the 14th century candelabrums ornamented with constellation and planet symbols, which have an important place in Islamic metal art.
Among the Ottoman metal art samples starting from the 16th century and reaching the 19th century, there are silver, brass, tombac (ornamented with valuable stones) crests, candles, rose water cans, censers, washtub / ewer sets.
Ethnography Section
Ethnographic parts collected for long years have found the possibility of being exhibited with the transfer of Turkish and Islamic Works Museum to İbrahim Pasha Palace.
The youngest part of the museum is exhibited in this collection, consisting of carpet - kilim looms collected from various regions of Anatolia, wool painting techniques, public weaaving and ornamenting art samples, clothes in their regional enhancements, house goods, hand arts, hand art instruments, nomad tents exhibited in places special to them.
Closed On: Monday
Timings: 09:30-16:30
Remarks: Address: Sultanahmet Meydani, Eminönü-Istanbul Phone: +90 (212) 518 18 05 Fax: +90 (212) 518 18 07
The museum has been moved to İbrahim Pasha Palace from the soup kitchen building in 1983. Ibrahim Pasha Palace, which is one of the most important samples of the 16th century Ottoman civil architecture samples is on the stages of the historical hippodrome, the history of which goes back to the Roman Period. This building, the precise construction reason and date are not known, has been presented to İbrahim Pasha by Kanuni Sultan Süleyman in 1520, who would be his grand vizier for 13 years.
İbrahim Pasha Palace, which is claimed to be bigger and more magnificent than Topkapı Palace by the history has been the stage of many weddings, feasts and celebrations as well as rebellions and turmoil and called with the name of İbrahim Pasha after the death of this person in 1536. It has been used by other grand viziers, and had functions such as barracks, embassy palace, register office, Janissary band house, sewing workshop and prison.
The palace located around four big internal courtyards has been made of stone in contrast with many Ottoman civil buildings, most of which are wooden, therefore it could reach today and has been repaired between the years 1966 - 1983 and has been born again as the new building of Turkish and Islamic Works Museum. The section, which is used as a museum today, is the big ceremony hall of the palace and the 2nd courtyard surrounding it, which have been the subject of all Ottoman miniatures of the palace and the gravures and tables of Western artists.
Turkish and Islamic Works Museum has been awarded with the Special Jury Award of Museum of the Year Competition of the European Council in 1984 and with the prize given by European Council - Unesco for its studies for making the children love the culture inheritance.
Turkish and Islamic Works Museum, that is among the important museums of the world in its class has works from almost all periods and all types of Islamic art with its collection exceeding forty thousand works.
Carpet Section
The carpet section forming the richest collection of carpet art in the world had a separate importance and caused the museum''s being famous as a "Carpet Museum" for long years. The museum has the richest carpet collection of not only Turkey, but also the world. Besides rare Seljuk carpets, prayer rugs and animal figured carpets belonging to the 15th centuries and the carpets produced in Anatolia between the 15th - 17th centuries and called as "Holbein Carpet" in the West inspired by the geometrically figures or kufi writing are the most valuable parts of this section.
Turkish and Islamic Works Museum carpet collection that became richer with Iranian and Caucasian carpets and famous Uşak and palace carpet samples is a reference, which the ones carrying out a serious research on the carpet art in the world must apply to.
Hand Writings and Calligraphy Section
Koran - ı Kerims constituting a big part of the writing collection of Turkish and Islamic Works Museum from the 7th century to the 20th century come from a large geographical region where Islam has spread over.
It is one of the rare collections, where Emevi, Abbasi, Egypt and Syria Tulunoğulları, Fatımi, Eyyubi, Memluk, Moğol, Türkmen, Seljuk, Timuri, Safavi, Kaçar and Anatolian Principalities and Ottoman calligraphy creations can be observed all together.
Among the hand writings, except Korans, there are books (some of them with pictures) written about various subjects and these draw attention both in terms of their writing styles and their coatings.
Imperial edicts, warrants bearing the signatures of Ottoman sultans, the sultan''s signatures each of which is a work of art, Turkish and Iranian miniature writings make Turkish and Islamic Works Museum one of the most important museums of the world.
Section of Wooden Works
The most important parts of this collection are the samples of Anatolian Wood art of the 9th - 10th century. Besides the unique parts that remained from the Anatolian Seljuks and principalities, mother - of - pearl, ivory, tortoiseshell ornamented wooden works of the Ottoman Period, unique samples of inlaying art, Koran part cases, bookrests, drawers are the interesting parts of this rich collection.
Stone Art Section
Stone works belonging to Emevi, Abbasi, Memluk, Seljuk, Ottoman periods, some of which have motifs and some of which have figures, but all of which have writings have been gathered in Turkish and Islamic Works Museum. Unique and elite samples of stone art of Seljuk Period, grave stones on which hunting scenes, fairy creatures such as sphinx, griphon, dragon, early - period stone works with kufi writings, inscriptions written in different methods that are projections of Ottoman calligraphy art are important both in quality and in quantity.
Section of Ceramic and Glass
In this collection consisting mostly of the ceramic works found in the excavations made between 1908 - 14, the ones from Samarra, Rakka, Tel Halep, Keşan are in the first ranks.
It is possible to see the stages of Early - Islamic Period ceramic art in the collection of Turkish and Islamic Works Museum. The mosaic, mihrab and wall encaustic tile samples belonging to the Anatolian Principalities and Seljuk Periods and the plaster ornaments of Konya Kılıçaslan Palace constitute another important part of the collection. Ottoman encaustic tile and ceramic art samples end with near - period Kütahya and Çanakkale ceramics.
The glass collection starts with the 9th century Islamic glass art samples and includes the 15th century Memluk candles, Ottoman period glass art samples.
Metal Art Section
Turkish and Islamic Works Museum Metal Art Collection starting with the unique samples belonging to the Great Seljuk Empire period and mortar, censer, long - spouted ewer, mirror and dirhems constitute an important collection with the door knockers of Cizre Ulu Mosque and the 14th century candelabrums ornamented with constellation and planet symbols, which have an important place in Islamic metal art.
Among the Ottoman metal art samples starting from the 16th century and reaching the 19th century, there are silver, brass, tombac (ornamented with valuable stones) crests, candles, rose water cans, censers, washtub / ewer sets.
Ethnography Section
Ethnographic parts collected for long years have found the possibility of being exhibited with the transfer of Turkish and Islamic Works Museum to İbrahim Pasha Palace.
The youngest part of the museum is exhibited in this collection, consisting of carpet - kilim looms collected from various regions of Anatolia, wool painting techniques, public weaaving and ornamenting art samples, clothes in their regional enhancements, house goods, hand arts, hand art instruments, nomad tents exhibited in places special to them.
Closed On: Monday
Timings: 09:30-16:30
Remarks: Address: Sultanahmet Meydani, Eminönü-Istanbul Phone: +90 (212) 518 18 05 Fax: +90 (212) 518 18 07
The museum is also known as the original building of Dariilfunun (University) which was opened in 1871. The restored building was turned into Press Museum in 1988.The museum features information and materials on Turkish press from ibrahim Miiteferrika, founder of Turkish publication history, to date.
Timings: Mon.-Fri.:13.30-18.00
Remarks: Address: Divanyolu Cad No:84, Cemberlitas - Istanbul Phone: +90 212 513 84 77 , www.tgc.org.tr
Timings: Mon.-Fri.:13.30-18.00
Remarks: Address: Divanyolu Cad No:84, Cemberlitas - Istanbul Phone: +90 212 513 84 77 , www.tgc.org.tr
The Palace of the Porphyrogenitus, known in Turkish as the Tekfur Sarayi ("Palace of the Sovereign"), is a late 13th-century Byzantine palace in the north-western part of the old city of Constantinople (present-day Istanbul, Turkey). An annex of the greater palace complex of Blachernae, it is the only Byzantine palace to survive in the city, and one of the few relatively intact examples of late Byzantine secular architecture in the world.
History
The Palace was constructed during the late 13th or early 14th centuries as part of the palace complex of Blachernae, where the Theodosian Walls join with the later walls of the suburb of Blachernae. Although the palace appears at first glance to be named after the 10th century emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus, it was built long after his time, and is in fact named after Constantine Palaiologos, a son of the Emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos. "Porphyrogenitus", meaning literally "born to the purple", indicating a child born to a reigning emperor. The palace served as an imperial residence during the final years of the Byzantine Empire.
The palace suffered extensive damage due to its proximity to the outer walls during the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453. Afterwards it was used for a wide variety of purposes. During the 16th and 17th century, it housed part of the Sultan''s menagerie. The animals were moved elsewhere by the end of the 17th century, and the building was used as a brothel. From 1719, the Tekfur Sarayı pottery workshop was established, and began to produce ceramic tiles in a style similar to that of İznik tiles, but influenced by European designs and colors. The workshop had five kilns and also produced vessels and dishes. It lasted for around a century before going out of business, and by the first half of the 19th century, the building became a poorhouse for Istanbul Jews. In the early 20th century, it was briefly used as a bottle factory, before being abandoned. As a result, only the elaborate brick and stone outer façade survives today, the only major surviving example of secular Byzantine architecture apart from the halls of the Palazzo dei Normanni. As of July 2010, the palace has been undergoing extensive restoration, and remains closed to the public.
Architecture
The Palace was a large three-story building located between the inner and outer fortifications of the northern corner of the Theodosian Walls. The ground floor is an arcade with four arches, which opens into a courtyard overlooked by five large windows on the first floor. The top floor of the structure project above the walls, and has windows on all four sides. On the east is the remnant of a balcony. The roof and all of the floors of the structure have disappeared. The remaining walls are elaborately decorated in geometric designs using red brick and white marble typical of the late Byzantine period.
Timings: ***CURRENTLY CLOSED FOR RENOVATION***
Remarks: Address: Hoca Sakir, Sishane Caddesi, Ayvansaray,Edirne Kapi / Fatih Istanbul Phone: +90 212 522 17 50 Fax: +90 212 512 54 74
History
The Palace was constructed during the late 13th or early 14th centuries as part of the palace complex of Blachernae, where the Theodosian Walls join with the later walls of the suburb of Blachernae. Although the palace appears at first glance to be named after the 10th century emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus, it was built long after his time, and is in fact named after Constantine Palaiologos, a son of the Emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos. "Porphyrogenitus", meaning literally "born to the purple", indicating a child born to a reigning emperor. The palace served as an imperial residence during the final years of the Byzantine Empire.
The palace suffered extensive damage due to its proximity to the outer walls during the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453. Afterwards it was used for a wide variety of purposes. During the 16th and 17th century, it housed part of the Sultan''s menagerie. The animals were moved elsewhere by the end of the 17th century, and the building was used as a brothel. From 1719, the Tekfur Sarayı pottery workshop was established, and began to produce ceramic tiles in a style similar to that of İznik tiles, but influenced by European designs and colors. The workshop had five kilns and also produced vessels and dishes. It lasted for around a century before going out of business, and by the first half of the 19th century, the building became a poorhouse for Istanbul Jews. In the early 20th century, it was briefly used as a bottle factory, before being abandoned. As a result, only the elaborate brick and stone outer façade survives today, the only major surviving example of secular Byzantine architecture apart from the halls of the Palazzo dei Normanni. As of July 2010, the palace has been undergoing extensive restoration, and remains closed to the public.
Architecture
The Palace was a large three-story building located between the inner and outer fortifications of the northern corner of the Theodosian Walls. The ground floor is an arcade with four arches, which opens into a courtyard overlooked by five large windows on the first floor. The top floor of the structure project above the walls, and has windows on all four sides. On the east is the remnant of a balcony. The roof and all of the floors of the structure have disappeared. The remaining walls are elaborately decorated in geometric designs using red brick and white marble typical of the late Byzantine period.
Timings: ***CURRENTLY CLOSED FOR RENOVATION***
Remarks: Address: Hoca Sakir, Sishane Caddesi, Ayvansaray,Edirne Kapi / Fatih Istanbul Phone: +90 212 522 17 50 Fax: +90 212 512 54 74
Istanbul Railway Museum is opened on 23th September 2005.Three
hundred cultural objects are being exhibited in the museum .
Museum is open every day except Sunday, Monday and national days.
Closed On: Monday
Timings: 09:00-17:00 except Sundays and Mondays
Remarks: Address: Sirkeci Train Station PHONE: +90 (212) 520 65 75 / 7885 FAX: +90 (212) 512 64 44
hundred cultural objects are being exhibited in the museum .
Museum is open every day except Sunday, Monday and national days.
Closed On: Monday
Timings: 09:00-17:00 except Sundays and Mondays
Remarks: Address: Sirkeci Train Station PHONE: +90 (212) 520 65 75 / 7885 FAX: +90 (212) 512 64 44
The PTT (Post - Telephone - Telegram company) museum in Istanbul is located inside the historic building of main post office at Sirkeci neighborhood. It houses several old phone units, telegram machines, first stamp from 1863 and other late Ottoman or early Republic period stamps, old seals and mail boxes, postal clerk uniforms, and some photos of the first communication systems in Turkey.
Closed On: Sunday
Timings: 08:30-12:30 and 13:30-17:30 Mo-Fr
Remarks: Address: Postahane Sok. Zaptiye Phone: +90 (212) 520 9037 Cad., Hobyar Mh. Sirkeci Eminönü, Istanbul
Do you think cartoons and caricatures are an unusual subject for a museum exhibition? Then do visit the Caricature And Humor Arts Museum during your stay in Istanbul. The vast collection of original caricatures, drawings, prints and photographic archives is exceptional, unlike anything you have ever seen before. They have also preserved various archives and documentation that are collected from around the world. An instresting fact about it is that the original site of the museum, in a Tepebasi building, was shut in 1980 and the museum was later re-opened in 1989 as the restored Gazanfer Agha school complex of Istanbul''s Fatih district.
Closed On: Monday
Timings: 10:00-16:30 except Sunday and Monday
Remarks: Address: Atatürk Boulevard, Kovacilar Street, No:12 Fatih-Istanbul Phone: +90 212 521 12 64
Closed On: Monday
Timings: 10:00-16:30 except Sunday and Monday
Remarks: Address: Atatürk Boulevard, Kovacilar Street, No:12 Fatih-Istanbul Phone: +90 212 521 12 64
The Tanzimat Museum(Tanzimat means the Period of Reforms) was first opened to the public in the Ihlamur Summer Mansion in 1952. In 1969, the museum’s collection was exhibited there until it was moved to the another location called “the Çadır Mansion,” in Yıldız Park. After the mansion was left for usage of the Touring and Automobile Club of Turkey (TURING), the historical collection of the museum was moved to the new museum building, which is situated in Gülhane Park in 1983 and it is still exhibiting in this museum.
On exhibit in the museum are the Tanzimat Firman (1839), one of the most significant documents in paving the way to the westernization of the Ottoman Empire, signed pictures of leading statesmen of the day, and engravings and paintings. Moreover, personal objects which belonged to Mustafa Reşid Paşa, Sadık Muhtar Bey, and Ziya Paşa, all leading statesmen during the Tanzimat reform movement, are on display in the museum.
Closed On: Monday
Timings: 09:00-16:00
Remarks: Address: Gülhane Parkı, Sirkeci Eminönü İstanbul Phone: +90 (212) 512 63 84
On exhibit in the museum are the Tanzimat Firman (1839), one of the most significant documents in paving the way to the westernization of the Ottoman Empire, signed pictures of leading statesmen of the day, and engravings and paintings. Moreover, personal objects which belonged to Mustafa Reşid Paşa, Sadık Muhtar Bey, and Ziya Paşa, all leading statesmen during the Tanzimat reform movement, are on display in the museum.
Closed On: Monday
Timings: 09:00-16:00
Remarks: Address: Gülhane Parkı, Sirkeci Eminönü İstanbul Phone: +90 (212) 512 63 84