Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts is one of the primary tourist attractions in Istanbul, Turkey. The museum is a treasure trove of collectible items emphasizing the beauty of the Turkish and Islamic art and culture. Most of the articles belong to the Ottoman, the Seljuk and the empires before these.
The Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum is situated on the hippodrome to the south of the Suleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul. The address is as follows:
At Meydani 46, Sultanahmet
Tel: (212) 518 18 05
The museum is open for all days of the week except Monday. The timings are from 9.30 to 17.00. The admission fee to this museum is almost negligible. The museum was the palace of Ibrahim Pasha, the Grand Vizier of Sultan Suleyman.
The rooms of the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts are filled with pieces of history, valuable books, calligraphy, carpets, miniatures, wooden panels, mother-of-pearl engravings, etc. Different sections showcase the variety of artifacts.
The Carpet section of the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts is one of the most famous ones. Rare carpets and rugs of the Seljuk, Anatolian, Iranian and Caucasian era find a place here. The antique carpets are a delight to all visitors.
The books and calligraphy section is also worth mentioning. The amazing collection of Korans dating from the 7th to the 20th century is quite interesting. Calligraphies and miniatures are also exhibited.
Other artifacts include Koran stands, candle sticks, chests and urns, incense burners, lanterns and many such objects of art and beauty.
