Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts

Overview

The Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts occupies the magnificent 16th-century Ibrahim Pasha Palace on Sultanahmet Square. It holds one of the world's finest collections of Islamic calligraphy, carpets, and ceramics.

Highlights

• Carpet Collection: Over 1,700 carpets including the world's oldest surviving Turkish carpets from the 13th century Seljuk period.
• Calligraphy Gallery: Quranic manuscripts and imperial firmans (decrees) in exquisite scripts.
• Ethnography Section: Recreated nomadic tents and village interiors showing traditional Anatolian life.

History

Built in 1524 as a gift from Sultan Suleiman to his grand vizier Ibrahim Pasha, the palace overlooks the Hippodrome. Ibrahim's meteoric rise ended with his execution in 1536; the palace eventually became a museum in 1914.

Visitor Tips

• Quiet Alternative: Far less crowded than neighboring Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque.
• Courtyard Café: A pleasant café in the inner courtyard.
• Duration: 1–1.5 hours.