"I thought I was headed to a unsafe, "dustbowl" in the Middle East. But, instead, I learned that Turkey is a beautiful landscaped, progressive country in the center of the world that rivals many countries in Europe. The Turks are very friendly, the food tastes great, and the history is rich."
-Timothy Drinkwine
Istanbul's Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art (Türk-Islam Eserleri Müzesi), on the Hippodrome across from the Blue Mosque (map), is a treasure-house of beautiful objects from the Ottoman (14th to 20th centuries), Seljuk (11th to 13th centuries), and earlier periods beginning in the 8th century.
The museum is housed in the restored Palace of Ibrahim Pasha, a sumptuous residence built by Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent's Grand Vezir (and intimate friend) Ibrahim Pasha (served 1523-1536). What you see is only part of the original structure, whose foundations date from about 1500.
The Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art is open from 9 to 5 (closed Monday). Admission costs TL10.
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