Istanbul has some of the most I exciting museums, ranging from the magnificent Haghia Sophia to the intimate Sadberk Hamm Museum. Entrance fees, where charged, are very reasonable.
 

Archaeological Museums (Arkeoloji Muzeleri)
Sultanahmet, Tel: 520 77 40 Across from the Cinli (Tiled) Kiosk sn Topkap: Palace's outermost court zs the magnijacent Archaeological Museum. The first jlooy and the annex of the museum is open to the public, displaying a selection of the 60,000 Greco- Roman and Neay Eastern antiquities in the collection, including moye than 75,000 inscribed clay tablets. Don't miss the wonderfully preserved Alexander Saycophagus found in Sidon and the treaty of Kadesh, the first peace treaty evey to be signed in the world. The museum brings to life the peoples of the ancient Middle East. Recently opened special educational section for children. Open 09.30-16.30. Closed Mondays.

Ataturk Museum
Halaskârgazi Caddesi 250, Sisli Tel: 240 6319 Ataturk, the foundey of modern Turkey, lived here briefly. The house displays some of hrs personal effects. 09.30-16.30. Closed Thuysdays and Sundays.

Calligraphy Museum (Mat Sanatlari Muzesi)
Beyazit Square, Tel: 527 58 51 The Ottomans, always uneasy with human pictorial representation, found fulley urtistic expression in calligraphy. This is the only museum of calligraphy in the world. 09.00-16.00. Closed Sundays and Mondays.

Carpet and Kilim Museum (Mah ve Kilim Muzesi)
(Next to the Blue Mosque), Sultanahmet, Tel: 518 13 30 A wonderjul collection of ancient kslsms and carpets in a very cool, marble environment. Also a large collection ofcarpets. 09.00-12.00, 13.00-16.00. Closed Sundays and Mondays.

Divan Literature Museum (Divan Edebiyati Muzesi)
Galip Dede Caddesi 15, Tünel, Beyoglu, Tel: 245 4141. Also called the Galata Mevlevihane, this is where the mystic "Whirling Dervishes" perform "Sema" dances and Suf music, on the last Sunday of every month. A memorable experience not to be missed. A fine display of instruments and dervish accessories. Closed Mondays.

Maghia Sophia
Sultanahmet, Tel: 52217 50 The Church ofHoly Wisdom is undoubtedly one of the greatest architectural creations in the world. Built by the Byzantine EmperorJustinian circa AD535, it was transformed into a mosque afler the Ottoman conquest of the city in 1453. Now a museum, it is awesome in size, and contains beautifully preserved Byzantine mosaics. Hanging alongside the pictures of Chrrst are huge wooden discs proclaiming the greatness of Allah: a meeting point of religions. A must for any visitor to Istanbul. 9.30-16.30. Closed Mondays.

Kariye Museum (The Church of St. Saviour fn Chora)
Kariye Catnu Sokak, Edirnekapi, Tel: 63192 41 A legendary Byzantine church decorated with extraordinary laté- l4th centuryfrescoes and mosaics portraying the life and miracles of Christ. The most important and extensive series of Byzantine paintings in the city and among the most significant in the world. 09.30-16.30. Closed Tuesdays.

Maritime Museum (Deniz Muzesi)
Besiktas Tel: 26100 40 Includes examples of the extraordinary caiques that used to row the Sultans to and from their homes along the Bosphorus. 09.30- 17.00. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

Mosaic Museum
Opposite Arasta Bazaar (behind the Blue Mosque), Sultanahmet, Tel: 51812 05 Houses the beautiful mosaics discovered in Justinian's Grand Palace of Byzantium. 09.30-17.00. Closed Tuesdays.

Museum of the 1839 Reforms /Tanzimat Muzesi)
Gulhane Park, Tel: 512 63 84 A small museum celebrating the Ottomans' l9th century attempt to catch up with the rest of Europe. Open every day 09.00-17.00.

Rahmi M. Koç Industrial Museum
Haskoy Caddesi 27, Sutluce, on the Golden Horn, Tel: 256 7153/54 A recently opened museum which gives an excitingglimpse into Istanbul's industrial past. Displays include scale models of steam engines, ships, cars, a full Maklin train set which visitors can operate and a fully recreated ship's bridge. Open 10.00-17.00. Closed Monday.

Sadberk Mamm Museum
Buyukdere Caddesi 27-29, Sanyer Tel: 242 3813 Excellent archaeological and ethnographical collections displayed in two handsome old mansions on the Bosphorus.10.30-17.00. Closed Wednesdays.

Topkapi Palace Museum
Sultanahmet, Tel: 512 04 80 The legendary palace of the Ottoman sultans from the l5th to the l9th centuries. Low buildings set in a series of courtyards, Topkapi is quite unlike a Western palace. Be sure to see the Harem, the Treasury and the golden-roofed Baghdad Kiosk. 09.30-17.00. Closed Tuesdays.

The Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art
At Meydam 46, Sultanahmet, Tel: 51813 85, 51818 05 A delightjul museum on the ancient Hippodrome, housed in Ibrahim PaSa Sarayi, the home of Suleyman the Magnificent's Grand Vizier. Beautifully displayed Islamic objects and antique carpets.10.00- 17 00. Closed Mondays.

Yildiz Palace Museum (Marangozhane)
Yildiz Palace, Barbaros Bulvari, Besiktas, Tel: 258 30 80/ext. 280 The converted carpentry workshop of Sultan Abdulhamit now houses exquisite poycelain pieces, giant vases and the joinery produced by the Sultan himself. Open 10.00- 16.00. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

MUSEUMS OF KONYA

Konya Mevlana Museum :

The tomb of the great Turkish thinker and mystic philosopher Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi is situated in The Konya Mevlana Dergah (dervish retreat) in Konya. It was turned into a museum in 1927. It contains objects pertaining to Mevlana and the Mevlevi order.

The Mevlana Tomb and Dergah is of Seljuk and Ottoman construction. Mevlevi writings say that the site of the Tomb and Dergah was originally the private garden of the sultan in Seljuk times. It was later presented to Mevlana's father Sultan'ul-Ulema by Sultan Alaeddin Keykubad I. Sultan'ul-Ulema died 42 years before Mevlana was buried in this garden. When Mevlana died on December 17, 1273 his body was brought here. It was buried beside his father. The construction of a tomb began during these years. The architect Tebrizli Bedreddin built the tomb with the financial help of the wife of the Seljuk Emir Suleyman Pervane, Gurcu Hatun, Emir Alameddin Kayser and Mevlana's son Sultan Veled. It was completed in 1274. It is thought that this first building was of cylindrical shape standing on four pillars with a conical dome. In 1396 and again during the time of the Ottoman Sultan Beyazit II repairs and additions were made. The interior was decorated with painted designs.

Today the Tomb rests on arches supported by four pillars, and is 25 m. in height. From the outside the body of the tomb is cylindrical in shape with 16 sections. It ends at the top with stone cornices, above which is a 16-sectioned conical spire. The whole tomb including the spire is covered with turquoise colored tiles. The tiles were replaced from time to time. For this reason it was called the Green Dome. On the side of the Dome in dark blue script are inscribed the Besmele and Ayet-ul-Kursi. On the top of the spire is a gold moon and star symbol.

On the west side of the Kulliye of the Mevlana Tomb and Dergah are the Dervish Cells. On the other three sides are walls. On the western side the main Dervishes Gate leads into the Mevlana Museum and Tomb. The gate to the south called "Bab-i Hamusan" leads to the Garden of Souls (Hadikat'ul-ervah), which was once a graveyard. The door to the north near the Celebi Apartments is called the Celebi Gate.

Entrance: The Main Gate leads into a marble courtyard with fountains for ablutions before entering the mosque. The Tomb Gate is also in this side. Its two doors are decorated with Seljuk motifs.

Tilavet Room (Calligraphy Section) : The Tomb gate leads into a small domed room, where the dervishes used to read the Koran. This room has now been arranged as the Calligraphy Section. Examples of works by famous calligraphers of the Ottoman period in the sulus, nesih, and talik styles are exhibited here. A silver door in the Tilavet Room leads to the Tomb. An inscription on the door says that the son of Sadrazam Sokullu Mehmed Pasha made it in 1599.

Tomb (Huzur-i Pir) : The silver door leads to the Tomb chamber which is called "Huzur-i Pir". To the right and on the opposite side of this three-domed chamber is a fairly high dais on which are sarcophagi. Two domes cover the two daises to the right. The Green Dome over the tomb of Mevlana is called the Kibab'ulaktab, which means the Poles Domes. The six tombs in rows of three, which divide the Semahane from the Mescid, are called the "Horasan Soldiers."

The stalactite filled dome in front of the sarcophagus of Mevlana is called the Post Dome. The oldest manuscripts of the Mesnevi (collection of poems by Mevlana), a gilded Divan-i Kebir (collection of lyric poetry), and the manuscript Divan of Sultan Veled are exhibited at the entrance to the tomb. They were in the cases in the center. The April Cup is a large bronze cauldron decorated with damascene figures and designs in gold and silver. It is also exhibited here. The Imperial Sultan Ebu Said Bahadir Han (1306-1335) had the April Cup made in Musul and presented it to the tomb of Mevlana in 1333.

One the right hand side of the room is a silver lattice separating the sarcophagus of Mevlana from the Huzur-i Pir. It is called the Silver Cage. The Maras Governor, Mahmud Pasha had the lattice built by the decorator llyas in 1579. On it is a silver plaque on which is inscribed a 32-distich poem in Turkish by the poet Mani. Under the lattice is a silver threshold with two steps. South of the Silver Cage right under the Green Dome are the marble sarcophagi of Mevlana and his son Sultan Veled. The sarcophagi are covered with gold embroidered covers presented by Sultan Abdulhamid II in 1894.

The wooden sarcophagus constructed for Mevlana is a masterpiece of Seljuk craftsmanship. Today this sarcophagus is over the grave of Mevlana's father Sultan'ul-Ulema.

On the west side of the Green Dome are the graves of Mevlana's wife and children, sheiks of the Mevlana Dergah, and descendants of Mevlana, and to the east there are more graves belonging to members of Mevlana's family. They total 65 sarcophagi in all. All the sarcophagi are covered with richly embroidered cloths.

Semahane : The Semahane is to the north of the Green Dome. It was built during the reign of Sultan Suleyman the Law Giver (or Magnificent) in the XVI century at the same time as the adjoining Mescid. The Semahane is the place where the Mevlevi dervishes do their ceremonial dance called the Sema. It contains enclosed areas both below and above for male and female visitors. There is a platform where poems in praise of Mohammad or asking his intercession (Naat) are read. There is also a special area for musicians. It is called the Mutrip Recess.

Today musical instruments, lecterns, candlesticks, lamps and Mevlana's clothes are exhibited in the Semahane.

Mescid : The small mosque of the Dergah, the Mescid, adjoins to the west side of the Semahane. The main gate to the Mescid opens onto the Dergah courtyard. The Mescid has a single balconied minaret and a marble sanctuary.

In show cases in the Mescid are exhibited illuminated manuscripts, kilims and carpets.

Dervish Cells : The Dervish Cells were built in 1584 by Sultan Murad III for the Mevlevi dervishes to live in. Each of the cells are to the west side of the tomb. They have a small dome and a chimney. The courtyard side of the cells has been closed off with a glass corridor. Today the first two have been preserved in their original state. The others are used as the "Carpet and Cloth Pavilion", where Seljuk Ottoman carpets and Ottoman period cloth woven in Istanbul, Bursa and Bilecik are exhibited.

Mevlevi Kitchen : The Dergah Kitchen is south of the dervish cells. The kitchen was enlarged during the reign of Murad III. It was also repaired in 1867. The kitchen is both the place where the dergah food was prepared. It is also a Chilehane (novitiate) where novice dervishes took their vows before entering the Mevlevi order. According to custom, during the 1001 days of their novitiate, the novices worked in the kitchen. At the end of this period a ceremony was held at which the novice was allocated a cell, and moved to live there.

Today kitchen utensils used in the Mevlana Dergah are exhibited in the kitchen.

Chelebi Apartment (Library) : Adjoining the south side of the tomb is a glass windowed room where the sheiks of the Dergah used to receive guests. It is called the Chelebi Apartment. The window, which looks onto the Tomb, is called the Niyaz Window or Supplicant Window. Today the Chelebi Apartment is used as the Library of the museum. It contains 6 thousand printed and manuscript books.

The museum also possesses three private libraries containing books donated by Abdulbaki
Golpinarli, M. Ferid Ugur and Mehmet Onder.

Hall of Honour (Director's Office) : Adjoining the kitchen is a large hall called the Hall of Honour (Meydan-i Serif). Today it is used as the Director's Office. This hall was formerly used for conversations between the sheik of the Dergah and the dervishes. In 1867 the ceiling of this room was decorated with designs and pictures in oil paint. Besides this there is a single storied building on the north side of the courtyard near the Chelebi Gate. It was called the Chelebi Guest House, which was originally used as accommodation for visiting dervishes.

Fountain and Seb-i Arus Pool : In the courtyard of the museum is a fountain made of sky marble. It was built by Yavuz Sultan Selim in 1512. Sultan Mehmed III repaired the fountain in 1595. Sultan Abdulaziz also repaired it in 1868.

In front of the Kitchen is a six-sided marble pool which is named 'Celebration Night' (Seb-i Arus). The dervishes danced beside it on the anniversaries of Mevlana's death.

The Tombs in the Courtyard of the Mevlana Museum :

Sinan Pasha Tomb: This is a classic Ottoman tomb on the south side of the courtyard. According to the inscription it was built in 1574. It contains the sarcophagus of the Karaman Governor General Sinan Pasha.

Tomb of Murad Pasha's Daughter: This is north of the Sinan Pasha Tomb. It was built for the daughter of Karaman Governor General Kuyucu Murad Pasha, Fatma Hatun who died in 1585. It contains a marble sarcophagus.

Hurrem Pasha Tomb: This is on the east side of the kitchen. The vizier Ibrahim Pasha built the Law Giver it during the reign of Sultan Suleyman for the martyr Hurrem Pasha. It contains the graves of Karaman Governor General Hurrem Pasha and Haci Bey.

Hasan Pasha Tomb: This is south of the Tomb. It was built for Hasan Pasha who died in 1573. One of the north windows opens onto Mevlana's Tomb.

There is also a small domed tomb on four columns, which was built for the son of Mustafa Pasha, Mehmed Bey who died in 1534.

Ottoman period inscriptions and historical gravestones are exhibited in the courtyard of the Museum.

Mevlana Research Institute :

The Konya Mevlana Research Institute was established in 1973 in a new building in Mevlana Museum Square. The objective is to carry out research into Mevlana and his works, and Mevlevi culture. The Institute has a library (which includes the Prof. F.N. Uzluk library), archives, depots and a conference hall. The archives contain Mevlevi ethnography, manuscripts and printed documents on the subject of Mevlana and the Mevlevi order, microfilms, photographs and pictures.

Mosques

Istanbul has hundreds of mosques, both monumental and intimate. Mosques are open to visitors every day outside worshipping hours, which are announced by the muezzins' call to prayer. All visitors are asked to remove their shoes and women are expected to cover their heads before entering. A few of the most architecturally interesting are:

Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Camii)
Sultanahmet Square The mostfamous mosque in the city, built in the early l7th century, distinguished by six slendey minarets and walls covered with amazing blue Iznik tiles. Open every day except during prayer times. Facing St. Sophia stands the supremely elegant, six-minaret, imperial Sultanahmet Mosque. Built between 1609 and 1616 by the architect Mehmet.

Eyup Mosque
Eyup For the Islamic world, this is the holiest mosque in all of Istanbul. The Ottoman sultans held their coyonation ceyemonies here. The faithful still flock here to pray to the yelics of Eyup, a companion of the Prophet. Be suye not to visit on Fridays, when the mosque is packed with woyshippers. Up the hill through the graveyard is the atmospheric Pierre Loti Cafe, ofjersng yefreshments and an arresting view of the Golden Horn.

Nuruosmaniye Mosque
Cagaloglu An 18th century mosque incluenced by baroque architecture. Consideyed a turning point in mosque architecture. Ortakoy Mosque
Ortakoy A superb setting on a point jutting into the Bosphorus. This Ottoman bayoque mosque displays a wondeyful sculptuyal approach.

Sokullu Mehmet Pasha Mosque
Sultanahmet Near the Covered Bazaay, an intimate Sinan mosque, built in a conf ned space, but neveytheless breathtakingly beautiful.

Suleymaniye Mosque
Beyazit Sinan's masterpiece. The massive scale of this mosque is best appreciated from a distance. Up close, the mosque is formal and rather forbidding, but it is interesting to wander around the surrounding complex of buildings.

Yeni Cami (New Mosque)
Eminonu A late example of classical Ottoman architectuye, this is one of the most familiar landmarks in the city.

Churches

The city abounds with churches of various denominations. A few churches of particular interest are:

St. Anthony of Padua
Istiklal Caddesi, Tunel One of the city's best known functioning Roman Catholic churches.

Church of St. George
Fener The seat of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate.

Christ Church
Serdari Ekrem Sokak 82, Tunel, Beyoglu A restored Anglican church, formerly known as the Crimean Memorial church, designed by the famous Victorian architect C.E. Street

St. Mary Pammakaristos (Fethiye Cami)
Fener, Tel:522 17 50 Many Byzantine emperors are buried here. Permission to visit must be obtained from the Haghia Sophia Museum, 09.30-17.00, closed Mondays

SS Sergius and Bacchus (Kucuk Ayasofya)
Sultanahmet A Byzanttine church built in Emperor Justinian's era. A must for architectuyal historians.

St. Stephen of the Bulgars
Fener Styanded in the middle of the Golden Horn road, this l9th century structure is built entirely of iyon. It was pyefabricated in Vienna and sent via the Danube to be eyected here to celebyate the independence of the Bulgarian Church.

Palaces

Beylerbeyi Palace
Cayirbasi Duragi, Beylerbeyi Tel: (216) 32193 20 A restored summer palace of the late Ottoman sultans, buiLt of white marble. 09.30-16.00. Closed Mondays and Thuysdays.

Ciragan Palace
Besiktas The formey summer home of the Ottoman sultans, now rebuilt as part of the complex of the Ciragan Palace HoteL Kempinski.

Dolmabahçe Palace
Besiktas Tel: 258 55 44 The l9th century rococco residence of the Ottoman sultans, and the place where Ataturk died in 1938. BeautifulLy situated, with a 600 metre frontage on the Bosphorus, an impressive ballroom, and ornate Victorian furniture embodying the Turkish assimilatian of European cultulre. Visitors are admitted in groups, Led by the museum's guides. Try to go eayly in the moyning, later in the day it may be fully booked. 09.00-16.00. CLosed Monday and Thuysday.

Ihlamur Palace
Ihlamurdere Caddesi, Besiktas , Tel: 261 29 91 A sylvan imperial rest house that remains seyene in the midst of city traffic. 09.00-17.00. Closed Mondays and Thuysdays.

Sale Kosku (Yildiz Park)
Besiktas, Tel: 259 45 70 Late Ottoman imperial palaces, this time set in the hills above the Bosphorus, in the leafy Yildiz Park. Sale (Chalet) Kosku is an elegant wooden building which served as residance for foreign state guests and is now a museum, 09.30-16.00, Closed Mondays and Thursdays.

Other Important Sights

Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarayi)
Yerebatan Caddesi, Sultanahmet Square, Tel: 52212 59 The vast awesome columned cavern was the watey souyce foy both the Gyand PaLace of the Byzantines and for the Ottomans' Topkapi PaLace. Open 09.00-17.30.

The Bosphorus
The straits which divide Euyope from Asia and define Istan6uL. A txip to the city would not 6e complete without a cruise up and down its shores. Imperial palaces are interspersed with wooden seaside mansions, decorative ferry landings, the twin fortresses of RumeLi Hisar and Anadolu Hisay, and two intercontinental bridges. Along the way, stop to exploye Rumeli Hisar (Open 09.30-1700 except Monday). Sultan Mehmet had the castle built in 1452 so he could lay siege to the city. If you take the circulay touy from Eminonu (2 hours each way) you can enjoy a fish lunch at Anadolu Kavag2. Feyry-boats also leave from Eminonu for various points along the weterway. Private boats can be hiyed during the summer.

The Covered Bazaar (Kapali Carsisi)
Has several gates: most used are at Cagaloglu and Beyazit Istanbul's legendary bazaar, a labyrinth of over 4000 little shops, is everything you dreamed an oriental mayket could be. Gold jewellery, carpets, siLver bibelots, leather, ceyamics, copper and bras objects, embroideries, hand-woven textiles, meerschaum pipes-in othey words a tyeasure tyove. Best approached from the Nuruosmaniye I entrance. Open 09.00-19.00 ' Monday-Saturday.

Galata Tower (Galata Kulesi) Buyukhendek Sokak, Sishane Tel: 2451160 Worth climbing to the top for the view from this l4th century Genoese folly. 08.00-21.00. Open every day.

The Princes' Islands
A group of nine islands four of them-Kinaliada, Burgazada, Heybeliada and Buyukada-inhabited. Afavourite summer place since Byzantine times, the islands are a haven of quiet. With their beautiful villas and pine groves, they offer lovely walks all year round. No private cars are allowed, so transportation is either by foot, horsedrawn carriage or donkey. Ferry-boats leave from Sirkeci, Kadakoy and Bostanca and sea buses operate infrequently from Kabatas and Bostanca (call 362 04 44 for sea 6us information). A charming excursion.

The Spice or Egyptian Bazaar (Misir Carsisi)
Eminonu An exotic food market and bazaar selling spices, dried fruits cheeses, olives, as well as towels, slippers, baskets and some jewellery. Outside, to the lefL, there is a wonderful flower and bird market and to the right merchants busily seLl vegetables and fish with lots of local coLour. Open Monday- Saturday 09.00-19.00.

Yildiz Park
(entrance on coast road between Besiktas and Ortakoy) The Sultans' private park, now open to the public, with two lovely buildings-Malta Kosk and Cadir Kosk. Both places have marvelous terraces. Also don't miss the elegant wooden Sale (Chalet) Kosku inside the park which is a museum. The park is a favourite of courting couples.