Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts

The Istanbul Turkish and Islamic Art Museum (Türk-Islam Eserleri Müzesi), located on the Hippodrome opposite the Blue Mosque, is a treasure trove of beautiful Ottoman (14th-20th century) and Seljuk (11th century) artefacts. to the 13th century) and earlier periods starting from the 8th century.

If you are interested in Islamic art, it is worth visiting and paying the 20 TL entrance fee. Consider purchasing an Istanbul Museum Pass.

During the Ottoman Empire, the best art was religious art, as it was in medieval Europe.

Turkish carpets, illuminated Qurans, calligraphy (for which the Ottomans excelled), carved and inlaid wood, glass, porcelain and stone are well displayed.

The museum is housed in the restored Ibrahim Pasha Palace, a luxurious residence built by Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent Grand Vezir (and intimate friend) İbrahim Pasha (served 1523-1536). What you see is only part of the original structure, the foundations of which date back to around 1500.

İbrahim Pasha was such a close friend and confidant of Süleyman and had so much influence over the monarch that the sultan's wife Roxelana (Hürrem) was worried. When İbrahim supported Prince Mustafa's candidacy as heir to the throne rather than Roxelana's son Selim, Roxelana acted.

He denounced İbrahim to the Sultan as a traitor, and on the night of March 14, 1536, after dining with the Sultan in Topkapi Palace, Ibrahim was strangled and all his wealth confiscated by the imperial government.

One of İbrahim's mistakes was living in a palace and a style that rivaled that of his sovereign. His successor Rüstem Pasha did not make the same mistake.

You can also visit the Istanbul Archeology Museums, a 10-15 minute walk north of Ayasofya towards Topkapı Palace, as well as the Carpet Museum next to Hagia Sophia.

https://turkeytravelplanner.com/go/Istanbul/Sights/Sultanahmet/TurkIslamArtMuseum.html

Photo: Dave Proffer