Istanbul
Museums of Our Time
In the city, there are museums that take place
among the marked museums of the world. Products of civilization founded in Anatolia and
Mesopotamia over a period of thousands of years, starting in prehistorical ages, can be
seen in these museums.
Archeological Museum: Archeological museum is
formed of 3 sections:
- Classical Archaeological Museum: It is located
between the Gulhane Park and the Topkapi Palace.It was built by Architect Vallery
(1891-1908). Its architecture resembles of the Greek Temples. In this museum, works of
various cultures from Anatolia and outside up to Byzantium times are being exhibited.
- Ancient Oriental Works Museum: It is next to the
archaeological museum.Works here are being exhibited in four main parts, Mesopotamia,
Egypt, Anatolia and Arabia. The museum was rearranged between 1963-1973 according to
contemporary museological understanding.
- Mosaics Museum: It is formed of the buildings of
Sultan Ahmet Complex. Here the 4th and 5th century mosaics obtained in excavations made in
1935 are being exhibited.
Military Museum: The museum initially opened in
Hagia Irene Church, later (1950) was moved to the 1 St Army Headquarters building in
Harbiye. Historical guns, clothing and tools of various periods of the army are being
exhibited and the old military band team gives concerts in the museum.
Asiyan Museum: It is located on the ridges of
Rumelia Fort. It is the house where Poet Tevfik Fikret lived. It was converted to a museum
in 1995. Literary works and personal belongings of the Poet are being exhibited here.
Ataturk Museum: It is located in Sisli. It is
the house where Ataturk lived with his mother and sister before he went to Anatolia. It
was converted to museum in 1942. Personal belongings of Atatürk are being exhibited here.
Hagia Irene and Hagia Sophia: These buildings
are the museums which exhibit their own characteristics. Exhibitions and concerts are
being arranged here.
Municipality Museum: It is in the Gazenfer Aga
Madrassah, underneath the Bozdogan aqueduct on the Ataturk Boulevard. Pictures and plans
of Istanbul and goods used in various periods are being exhibited in the museum.
Tiled Kiosk: In 1472, it was ordered by Fatih
Sultan Mehmet to be built connected to the Topkapi Palace. Turkish tiles and ceramics are
being exhibited in this museum.
Naval Museum: The museum initially opened in
Dolmabahce Mosque, was then moved to Besiktas. Goods and documents of Turkish navigation
history are being exhibited in the museum.
Classical Turkish Literature Museum: It is
located in Yuksekkaldirim. Manuscripts related to Muslim religion and literature are being
exhibited here. Fire-Brigade Museum: It is situated on the Itfaiye Street in Fatih.
Fire tools and vehicles used by old local
fire-brigade teams in various periods are being exhibited.
Paintings and Sculpture Museum (1937): It is
located in Besiktas. Works of the famous Turkish Sculptors and painters are being
exhibited here.
Rumeli Hisari Museum (1950): The building
exhibits its own characteristics. Concerts are given in Rumeli Hisari from time to time.
Health Museum: It is situated on Divanyolu
Street. Graphics, writings and statistics are being exhibited here.
Tanzimat (Reforms) Museum: It is situated in the
Ihlamur Summerhouse in Besiktas. A good number of goods, paintings and monuments related
to Reformation period are exhibited here.
Turkish and Islamic Works Museum: It is in the
hospice building of the Suleymaniye Complex (1913) where Turkish and Islamic works are
being exhibited.
Yedikule Museum: It is called Yedikule dungeons.
It has been the scene of important events of Byzantium and Ottoman histories. It was used
as a prison
Topkapi Palace Museum (1924): Various rich
collections are being exhibited in separate sections in the Topkapi Palace Museum. Chinese
and Japanese Porcelains are exhibited in the kitchen of the Palace. Personal clothings and
belongings of sultans are exhibited in the second courtyard. Treasury objects and
priceless jewelry are exhibited in treasury section. Portraits of sultans and famous
paintings given as gift are exhibited on the left of the Directorate building. In the
Prophet's Mantle department, holy objects of Prophet Muhammed and of four khalifes are
exhibited under the name of relics. Valuable manuscripts are being exhibited in Agalar
Mosque, a variety of arms are on show in the internal Treasury.
Yerebatan Palace: Justinianus I, Byzantium
Emperor, had the cistern be constructed in the 6th century (565). The old name was
Basilica cistern. The palace takes its name due to its ornamented column heads. Today, it
is used as a museum.
Dolmabahçe Palace: Initially Dolmabahce Summer
Palace and the Timber kiosk were built by Ahmed I, in the beginning of the l7th century.
The present palace was built in 1853 in the time of Sultan Abdulmecit. It is located in
Besiktas. Today it is being used as a museum.
Beylerbeyi Palace: Sultan Abdulaziz had Balyan
Usta construct the palace in 1865. It is on the shore in Beylerbeyi. Today it is being
used as a museum.
Elgiz
Museum of Contemporary Art : Proje4L ‘Istanbul Museum of
Contemporary Art’,which was closed in order to convert to being a contemporary
art museum was re-opened at the same location on the 25th of December, 2004
under the name, Proje4L ‘Elgiz
Museum of Contemporary Art’.
For three years, Proje4L ‘Istanbul Museum of Contemporary Art’ provided an
opportunity for new developments in Turkish contemporary art, helped young
artists to gain recognition within the international art scene and organized
international exhibitions and conferences. Now it hosts the permanent collection
of its founders, Sevda&Can Elgiz. ‘Elgiz Museum of Contemporary Art’, is a non
profit organisation dedicated to increasing the profile of contemporary art in
Turkey.
Consisting of works by influential Turkish and International artists, ‘The Elgiz
Collection’ represents a wide range of progressive art in different media and
illustrates the unerring passion for collecting of it’s founders. The objective
at the ‘Elgiz
Museum of Contemporary Art’ is to create a common message through Turkish
and International art, promoting visual and cultural diversity. By integrating
the work of Turkish artists with that of established International artists the
museum effectively facilitates the globalization of Turkish art.
‘Elgiz
Museum of Contemporary Art’ organizes lectures and seminars in its
conference space by inviting International collectors to share their enthusiasm
and their experiences in collecting art.
Elgiz Museum of Contemporary Art is open from 10 : 00 – 18 : 00, Wednesday,
thursday, Friday; from 10 : 00 – 16 : 00 on Saturday; and tuesdays by appointment.
No Entrance Fee.
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