Turkish Islamic Art Museum

Open everyday except Monday from 09.30 to 17.30
Entrance fee: 10.00 TL

The Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art (Türk İslam Eserleri Müzesi), a delightful museum on the ancient hippodrome, housed in Ibrahim Paşa Palace, was built in 1524 by İbrahim Paşa (Grant Vizier of Süleyman the Magnificent, married to Süleyman's sister as the Sultan ascended the throne, thus occupying a very important place in the palace hierarchy) as his residence. It was the greatest private residence ever built in the Ottoman Empire.

Ibrahim Paşa was strangled on the order of Hürrem Sultan (the preferred wife of Süleyman the Magnificent), and the government confiscated his properties. The palace was later used as military quarters for new recruits. After being restored and repaired, it was re-opened as a museum for Turkish and Islamic arts.

Today it holds a superb collection of ceramics, metalwork, miniatures, calligraphy, textiles, and woodwork as well as some of the oldest carpets in the world

The museum has a coffee corner and a very rich souvenir shop in it. Don't miss Sultanahmet (Blue) Mosque's view from the balcony.

Latest comments about this article

 By crcr  5.1.2009

I visited the museum two days ago. The entrance fee is now 10 TL.

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