TRAVEL
Islamic monuments , art of the Ottoman Empire and even with the personal belongings of some sultans . You can see a diversity of Islamic art such as calligraphy and book miniatures , ceramics and toreutics , artistic woodcarving and carpet weaving . The building of the museum was the palace of Ibrahim Pasha ( XVI century ). Suleiman the Magnificent ’ s wedding present to his dear vizier is one of the oldest mansions in Istanbul .
3 ) Istanbul Archaeology Museum , Istanbul Arkeoloji Müzesi
If you go for a walk in Gulhane Garden at the foot of the Topkapi Palace , you cannot miss this famous complex of museums . There are three museums under one name : the Archaeological Museum , the Museum of the Ancient Orient and the Museum of Islamic Art . In the beginning the collection was located in the Museum of Islamic Art , but today three buildings are not enough for the colossal collection ( more than a million exhibits ). It is worth starting a visit from the Museum of the Ancient Orient and find out about the antiquities of Sumer , Assyria , Ancient Arabia , Egypt and Babylon . The Archaeological Museum is located in a classical building of the late XIX century , constructed by the Franco-Ottoman architect Alexander Vallaury . Walk in snow-white antiques and stop in the Museum of Islamic Art , feel the paradise atmosphere of marvelous gardens and flowers ! Artistic ceramics is a leading field in the Turkish decorative and applied arts . The small town of Iznik ( formerly Nicaea ) played a special role in the tradition . A recognizable combination of blue and red tulips and carnations , turquoise-green stems on a white background has become the hallmark of Iznik ceramics . The Museum of Islamic Art shows origin of the style and inspire you to buy replicas of world famous ceramics . To buy ceramics , I advise you to go to the Grand Bazaar , but do not forget to bargain and enjoy a game that will please both you and the seller !
4 ) Galata Mevlevi Whirling Dervish Dervish Museum , Galata Mevlevihanesi Müzesi
Turkish Sufis or dervishes are known all over the world for their bewitching ecstatic dances . But few people know that the history of Turkish Sufism ( mystical direction in Islam ) is connected with a great Persian Sufi poet and mystic Jalalad-Din Rumi . It was his son , Sultan Valad , who founded the Mevlevi tarikat ( order ) in Konya in order to preserve Rumi ’ s ideas and rituals . Today they attract followers from all over the world to the order of Turkish dervishes , and the annual dervish festival is held in Konya on the day of Rumi ’ s death . The exposition of the Istanbul Museum occupies only two floors of a small building belonged to the Mevlevi brotherhood . The museum tells the history of this religious movement , the philosophy of Sufism and will help find the answer to the main question : why are the dervishes whirling ? By the way , if you think over your visit in advance , you can attend a performance ( they do not take place every day ), where you will see a mesmerizing meditative dance of white skirts and then walk in the cozy courtyard of the museum under the orange trees ...
Halı Müzesi
DECEMBER ’ 21 C A R P E T 79