Museums – Black Sea
Turkey, each offering a unique glimpse into the country’s rich history and culture:
Location: Istanbul
Highlights: Comprising three museums, it houses over a million artifacts from various civilizations, including Greek, Roman, and Byzantine periods.
They are a collection of three museums that display more than one million exhibits from world history.
The museums are located in the Eminonu Quarter, close to Topkapi Palace.
Topkapi Palace Museum:
Location: Istanbul
Highlights: Once the court of the Ottoman sultans, it features stunning views of the Bosphorus, the Harem, and jewel-encrusted artifacts.
Hagia Sophia:
Location: Istanbul
Highlights: Originally a church, then a mosque, and now a museum, it showcases a blend of Byzantine and Islamic art.
Museum of Anatolian Civilizations:
Location: Ankara
Highlights: Displays artifacts from ancient Anatolia, including relics from the Hittites and Phrygians.
Pera Museum:
Location: Istanbul
Highlights: Known for its collection of Ottoman and Turkish art, including the famous painting “The Tortoise Trainer” by Osman Hamdi Bey.
Zeugma Mosaic Museum:
Location: Gaziantep
Highlights: Home to some of the most exquisite mosaics from the ancient city of Zeugma.
Mevlana Museum:
Location: Konya
Highlights: Dedicated to the famous Sufi mystic Rumi, it includes his tomb and various artifacts related to his life and teachings.
Galata Mevlevi Museum
Location: Galata Mevlevihanesi, as the museum is locally called, is located at the end of Istiklal Street in the Beyoğlu area of Istanbul.
Highlights: Established in 1491 along with Galata Palace School, the building is recognized by its imposing main entrance.
The museum has several exhibit halls displaying calligraphy, musical instruments of the Ottoman Army Band, and other musical instruments are on display.
This museum hosts a whirling dervish performance every Sunday at 6:00 p.m. that lasts about an hour.
It is one of the only two authentic performances held in Istanbul. The other is at the Honda Pasha Culture Center near Sirkeci tram station.
Troya (Troy) Museum:
Location: Çanakkale
Highlights: Focuses on the ancient city of Troy, featuring artifacts and exhibits that bring the legendary city to life.
Anıtkabir:
Location: Ankara
Highlights: The mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey, and a museum dedicated to his life and achievements.
Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts:
Location: Istanbul
Highlights: Showcases Islamic calligraphy, carpets, ceramics, and other artifacts from the 8th to the 19th centuries.
The museum holds a rich collection of 250,000 Quranic fragments.
They are from the Umayyad period and were brought from Damascus, present-day Syria.
There is also a rich collection of 3000 Qurans and 17,000 other manuscripts.
Other exhibits include rare Islamic and Türkiye art.
Istanbul Museum of Modern Art:
Opened in 2004, it is a collection of Turkish contemporary art showcasing works of Turkish artists.
Located in Beyoğlu district, inside the Gallata Complex, it predominantly displays Türkiye art from the later part of the 20th century.
The Istanbul State Art and Sculpture Museum is also nearby for those interested in older Turkish works.
Istanbul Museum of Modern Art:
Located in the Yeşilköy neighborhood of Bakırköy district in Istanbul, over an area of 65,000 m².
It displays aviation history beginning with the Ottoman period.
Equipment and planes used by the Turkish Air Force over the years are also on display. The earliest displayed object is from 1912.
These museums offer a fascinating journey through Turkey’s diverse and rich cultural heritage.