Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum

History And Culture at The Turkish And Islamic Arts Museum

Sultanahmet as a district is packed with a huge range of different areas of historical interest. You can easily spend an entire vacation in this one district and not be bored! The Blue Mosque, Hagia Sofia, Gulhane Park, Topkapi Palace, the Grand Bazaar, the list goes on, and these are all located in Sultanahmet itself!

Never mind Taksim, Besiktas, Eminonu, Ortakoy, Bebek, Uskudar, and Kadikoy!

If you’re basing yourself in Sultanahmet, or you’re simply visiting for the cultural and historic hotspots, be sure to head to the Turkish And Islamic Arts Museum on one of your days.

About The Turkish And Islamic Arts Museum

As we mentioned, the Turkish And Islamic Arts Museum is located in Sultanahmet, and it is a very poplar museum to head to. The museum is home to some of the most beautiful exhibits and pieces of this deeply traditional type of art, and stands in a building which was once the home of Pargali Ibrahim Pasha, the Grand Vizier to Suleyman the Magnificent in the 16th century. The outside garden and courtyard is something to behold, so that is something you should certainly check out during your visit to the museum.

Inside the museum you will find some seriously impressive exhibitions and collections of Islamic art, including calligraphy featured in art of this time, abstract art, and also contemporary Islamic art too. You will also find an ethnography exhibition which will teach you all about life in the 16th century and beyond in Anatolia.

Put simply, if you are interested in traditional artistic methods used throughout history in this part of the world, then you can’t miss the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum.

Make sure you take in the Usak Anatolian carpets, which are all handwoven, and part of one of the best collections of carpets you’ll find anywhere else in the world. There is a wonderful tiling and woodcarving exhibition which will show you the types of decoration that influenced Ottoman architectural styles, and an exhibit on Yoruk folk art, including tents which would have been home to these nomadic people in Turkish history.

Another sight not to miss is the door which once featured on the Great Mosque in Cizre, which was built in 1155. You might struggle to find anything older during your visit to Istanbul!

Visiting the Turkish And Islamic Arts Museum

As the museum is located in Sultanahmet, it is very easy to get to. There is a tram stop in central Sultanahmet which you can use to reach the area from Karakoy and Eminonu, and the museum is a few minutes’ walk away from that stop, with signposts to show you the way. Currently, the entrance fee is just 25TL per person.

The museum is open every day apart from Mondays, and from 9am until 5pm. Do check if you are visiting during a public holiday or religious holiday, as the museum may be closed during those times too.

You will probably easily be able to spend a couple of hours inside the museum and after that you can extend your visit to Sultanahmet, by checking out one of the many other attractions in the local area. Perhaps a visit to the beautiful Blue Mosque is in order? Remember, this is a working mosque so it will be closed during prayer times, but it is a fantastic and truly wonderful place to head to. There is also Hagia Sofia almost directly opposite the Blue Mosque, which has been both a church and a mosque throughout history, and is now a museum.

Of course, Topkapi Palace is close by, and the stunningly beautiful Gulhane Park. Here you can spend a few hours simply walking and chilling out. It’s amazing to think that such a place of natural beauty is found in such a large and busy city! This is part of the old Topkapi Palace complex, and was were royalty spent their leisure times back in the day. On a warm day, you can easily sit and soak up the sun, and even when the winter sets in, the trees will shelter some of the cool breeze blowing in from the Bosphorus.

Remember, there are many authentic restaurants around this area too, so be sure to try a traditional Turkish meal whilst you’re one of the oldest parts of this historic and cultural city. You’re sure to find a dish that fits your palate’s needs, and you’ll probably be extremely full afterwards!