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News & Features
Feature Articles
Bozcaada - Bozcaada, former Tenedos and one of the two beautiful islands of Aegean Sea, is a very special vacation place with its marvelous sea, fresh air, historical structure, vineyards and exquisite wine. “God created Bozcaada for those who visited there, to have a long life.” was famous Greek historian Herodot's saying. Islanders memorize it and this sentence is the most frequently heard quote during your stay and when you leave Bozcaada you indeed agree with Herodot's praises to Bozcaada. As the ferry draws closer you realize it is a very pretty island. The Bozcaada Fort was rising in front of us with its all radiance. The people who welcome you are the representatives of the motels and pensions waiting for customers on the quay carrying banners. Above all some of them draw near you and ask whether you have a place to stay while handling their cards. It is not a bad method. However you are not going to need them since I've made a real hard survey. In order to stay there you first should make a choice between hotel, motel, apart-hotel, pension and “Vacation Farm”. Holiday Village concept has become Holiday Farm in Bozcaada in conformity with the nature. Let's first begin with them. We went to Kiraz Tatil Çiftliği (Cherry Vacation Farm) located at Tuzburnu Koyu (Tuzburnu Cove) following our friends' advises.>>
1st Istanbul International Opera Festival - State Opera and Ballet General Directorate puts its signature under a huge project that will combine European Culture Capital Istanbul’s historical places with art. 1st Istanbul International Opera Festival will be organized as Istanbul 2010 European Culture Capital project with the support of Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Istanbul Governorship and Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. Festival : It will be realized at the Yıldız Palace, Topkapı Palace, Rumeli Fortress and Cemil Topuzlu Outdoor Theatre during July 2010 under the Art Directorate of Yekta Kara, Head Director of State Opera and Ballet General Directorate. Operas about Turkish culture and life that are included in the repertoire of 1st Istanbul International Opera Festival such as The Abduction from the Seraglio, Fatih the Conqueror (Fatih Sultan Mehmet) and Zaide, will meet with the audience at brilliant İstanbul nights and at original historical decors. The 4 weeks festival will remain in the minds of art lovers with 7 different opera productions and in total 17 performances. Besides the productions of Ankara, Istanbul, İzmir, Antalya and Samsun State Opera and Ballet, world’s most important and prestigious art institutions such as Deutsche Oper Berlin and Bremen Opera will also perform the most beautiful samples of opera as a company. Famous names of international music arena will also take to the stage in the festival as guest soloist artisans together with Turkish and foreign artisans.>>
Open Air Museums in Turkey - Historical places are preferred by people who wish to spend their vacations not only resting but also visiting the ruins. If you are interested in the history of the place where you spend your holiday, we suggest you visit the Ancient Sites which are the open air museums of Turkey. The jury of the daily newspaper "Hürriyet", who are archeologists, art historians, travelers and authors, have chosen the best Open Air Museums in Turkey. They are mostly located in western Anatolia. Ephesus (Efes) is located 70 kilometers south of İzmir on the delta of the Küçük Menderes river. It was built in 5000 BC. The most important buildings are the Amphitheater, Celcius Library, Odeon Square, Temple of Artemis and Hillside houses. It is also believed that the Virgin Mary may have visited Ephesus. It is open everyday between 08:30 and 19:00. There are almost 60 souvenir shops on the upper and lower entrances to Ephesus. Transportation can be provided by minibuses taking off from Selçuk and Kuşadası. You can return to Selçuk at any time via taxis waiting in line at the lower entrance. Bergama is a district of İzmir named after the historical hero Pergamon. In addition, Pergamus is a word used for a high hill in the Hittite language. Furthermore Bergman means city and Pergamun means citadel-castle in the Ahroca Phyrigian language. Bergama is the original location of The Altar of Zeus, which is on display in Berlin. It has one of the steepest amphitheaters of the world. The world's first hospital was built in Bergama. Sergis Temple is in the middle of the city with its red bricks.>>
Magic Ice Museum opens in Istanbul - Istanbul's Forum Shopping Mall is now home to the world's first ice museum in a warm climate. The Magic Ice Museum, which opened Friday at a ceremony, was realized with an investment of $20 million by the Norwegian Lofoten Trading Company. As Istanbul readies for summer, one of the first permanent ice museums in a warm climate opened its doors April 23, set to be a cold “heaven” for those who want to escape the city’s heat. The inauguration of the Magic Ice Museum was attended by top officials from the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, one of whom said the city is like an open-air museum with its 8,500 years of history. “The city served as the capital of three big cities. Despite this, the history of museums [in Istanbul] goes back only 165 years,” metropolitan municipality Vice President Ahmet Selamet said. “Despite its historical richness, the city could not take steps toward museum management in terms of both private and public enterprises.” The ice museum, opened in one of the city’s newest shopping malls, Forum Istanbul, was built by the Norwegian Lofoten Trading Company with an investment of $20 million. “Resources show that museum management is improved by private enterprises. But when we look at the development of museum management in Western countries, I have to say that what our private enterprises do for museums is not enough,” Selamet said.>>
29th Istanbul Film Festival - Istanbul’s cinema aficionados are due a treat as organizers of the International Istanbul Film Festival have announced the event’s program, which includes over 200 films from 57 countries. The 29th edition of the festival is being organized from April 3 to 18 by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts, or İKSV. The festival will present new features from 2009 and 2010, as well as unforgettable classics from master filmmakers. The two-week event will include workshops and panel discussions with the masters of film, special guests, film seminars and parties. Eleven films will compete in the festival’s international competition and national competition categories. At the same time, Italian director, screenwriter and actor Marco Bellocchio and Austrian actor Klaus Maria Brandauer will receive lifetime achievement awards. One of the festival’s focuses is human rights. In line with this, a Film Award of the Council of Europe, or FACE, will be presented for the fourth time at the festival. Council Communications Director Can Fişek said the award would be given to a festival film that successfully examines the theme of human rights.In addition to İKSV, the festival has been made possible with the support of the Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, Beyoğlu Municipality, the Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Agency, and Akbank, which is back for a third year of support.>>
Turkish contemporary art in Washington DC - Photography, video, paintings, textiles and installations by 11 Turkish artists who create work in response to outlined gender roles will be on display at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, DC. The museum is the only one in the world dedicated exclusively to female artists. The world’s only museum dedicated exclusively to recognizing the contributions of female artists will host a Turkish exhibition from Feb. 12 to May 16. The exhibition “Dream... But Not Yours: Contemporary Art From Turkey” at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, or NMWA, in Washington, D.C., will display works by 11 leading Turkish artists who pose the elemental question: “Why do so many women seek to conform and adhere to standards set by others, and continue to be judged by their roles as spouses, mothers and keepers of the house?” Sponsored by Akbank, the Foreign Economic Relations Board, or DEİK, and the Turkish American Business Council, or TAİK.>>
The Ottoman fountains of Istanbul - At the beginning of the 20th century there were some 1,600 fountains in Istanbul and 100 years later there were only 400. Once their function was gone, neglect set in The Ottoman fountains of Istanbul At the head of a street in Cihangir is a small fountain. For years it was a decrepit, rundown, vine-clad ruin. Then one day there was a ribbon around it and workers busy cleaning it. Today it has returned to its original state although no water flows from it. It has a date of 1055 A.H. (1645-46) and the person who built it was named Ahmed Paşa. This must have been Tarhuncu Ahmed Paşa who served as a grand vizier under Sultan Mehmet IV. He is honored as a reformer for having done his best to put Ottoman finances on a better basis and his ability to “persuade” the wealthy to give up some properties and money they had taken illegally from the state. The repairs were carried out by the owner of a new apart-otel that was being constructed nearby out of an old apartment building and street front stores.>>
Turning Istanbul into capital (of culture) - Since November 2006, when European Commission announced Istanbul to become the 2010 European Capital of Culture, the residents of the city are impatiently awaiting the event as well as closely following the preparations. By the end of 2009 the event calendar already looks astonishing and leaves no doubts about the advanced stage of preparations. What is more, the agenda is still open for new organizations to take place next year. But what’s the European Capital of Culture title mean to Istanbul? Some might say that Istanbul already is a culture capital, not only European, but arguably global. Although this is true, the benefits of the title go beyond mere honors. A 2004 study by the European Commission by Robert Palmer indicates that the choice of European Capital of Culture significantly improves the image of the chosen city in the eyes of its inhabitants as well as visitors and further stimulates cultural development and tourism.>>
Istanbul's summit of contemporary art - Contemporary Istanbul will meet art lovers and members of the international art world for the fourth time from Dec. 3 to 6 at the Lütfi Kırdar Congress and Exhibition Hall. Sponsored by Akbank Private Banking, the event will bring together national and international contemporary art galleries, artists and artworks. One of Turkey’s most extensive contemporary art events will be organized for the fourth time at the Lütfi Kırdar Congress and Exhibition Hall between Dec. 3 and 6. The Contemporary Istanbul ’09, or CI’09, fair will include works by hundreds of artists from more than 70 Turkish and foreign galleries. The event was launched Friday at a press conference held at the Sofa Hotel with the participation of Contemporary Istanbul Executive Board Chairman Ali Güreli, Director Emin Mahir Balcıoğlu and Fikret Önder, the deputy general director of the fair’s main sponsor, Akbank Private Banking.>>
Gordion Drawings Exhibition and Turkish Cultural Day at the Penn Museum, Philadelphia - Turkish Cultural Day was held at the Penn Museum on 26th September 2009, on the occasion of the opening of the exhibition called 'His golden Touch', featuring the Gordion Drawings of famous archaeological illustrator Piet de Jong. Cultural and Information Attaché Nihan Bekar participated at this special event and delivered a speech for expressing the gratitude to the officials of Penn Museum for organizing Turkish Cultural Day and highlighting Gordion with an impressive exhibiton. Throughout the day, Turkish Music Performances, Cooking Demonstrations, Marbling (Ebru) Shows were held in different galleries of the Museum. Please find below more information on the Exhibition which will be on display through January 2010. >> Müzekart offers a trip through history - Turkey’s akbil system – the prepaid pass for public transportation in Istanbul – has been a big hit since its inception. It is more practical to use than paying money each time and provides a discount, too. Now, a new prepaid pass is gaining attention, but this time around it’s not for transportation, but museums. With this card, launched in July 2008 by the Tourism and Culture Ministry, entrance to more than 300 museums and ancient sites in Turkey is cheaper than ever. Called the Müzekart (museum card), it allows its holder to enter any participating museum or site for just 20 Turkish Liras per year. Within one year, nearly a million people had purchased a Müzekart. According to the Tourism and Culture Ministry’s management center, the Müzekart will soon also be available for tourists visiting Turkey.>>
GÖCEK: The most famous and elite harbour of Turkey - The Gulf of Göcek, with well-equipped marinas set in a beautiful pine forest, is one of the Mediterrariean's best sailing spots. Dotted with islands and intented with many, coves, its land and seascapes are irresistible. The ruins of Arymaxa, an ancient city the southern tip of the gulf, lie at the edge of the azure waters. Opposite on Tersane Island stand Byzantine ruins including those of the ancient shipyards. Göcek is popular with yacthing types who come here for its excellent marina. It is a charming resort with a range of sophisticated hotels and upmarket restaurants and boutiques.>>
Paragliding: The easiest and cheapest way of aviation - Paragliding sport is to take off by means of running from a high hill instead of plane with a parachute similar to free style jumping parachute on the first look. Parachute, which is lied on a inclined and high hill, is filled with air with the running of pilot and take off with pilot. Periods of the flights can continue for kilometers / hours in connection with experience of the pilot and performance of the materials used. Although it can be for single person, there is two persons (tandem) wings. Paragliding, whose first trial had been made on 1940s, had been numerously modified till today, and lots of structural improvements which increase the flight period and security, had been performed. First paragliding was similar to free style diving parachute. It had turned into an aerophyl structure which has high raising power instead of its pressure enduring characteristic with changing in time.>>
Turkey: A Sailing Paradise - The azure waters of the Mediterranean, the Aegean, and the Black Sea, as well as the Sea of Marmara, surround Turkey to the south, west and north.With over 8,333 kilometers of coastline along the four seas, Turkey is a treasure chest of coves, inlets, bays and beaches at which yachtsmen can choose a different and private anchorage each night. The sailing paradise of Turkey is also home to the Blue Voyage. This idyllic cruise means sailing with the winds, into coves and over the seas and becoming one with nature. It is also an experience of the history of man from the perspective of the sea rather than from the land, a journey which carries you to the private beach of Cleopatra, the eternal fires of remains of ancient civilizations. For lovers of the active life, sailing in clear waters provides great opportunities for swimming, fishing, skiing, surfing and diving.>>
A Trip to Soğanlı and Gülşehir - Today we’re traveling to ‘our’ Ottoman House in Goreme; you’ve been with us on this trip many times but there’s new road to be driven. The newest portion of the autobahn from Pozanti almost to Nigde has recently opened and we’re going to travel it. We leave Adana at 8:00 am and in no time reach Pozanti in the beautiful Taurus Mountains. We’ve had far more rain this winter than usual and the landscape is awash in multiple patterns of green; from fields stretched out from the roadway to tree-covered mountains, all around us blanketed in dazzling white snow. Once in Pozanti we pay our toll (as usual) and make a ten-minute rest stop. Back on the road now, we follow the signs to the ramp directing us to the new highway. Where we usually follow the road west of the river we now cross over and head north on the east side of the river. The new road is taking much business from the old truck stops north of the village and when completely finished I believe it will take far more.>>
Coloring the city with vivid tulips - Being one of the symbols of Turkish culture, tulips are planted to herald the coming of spring in Istanbul. The city now celebrates the 4th Int’l Tulip Festival and vivid tulips can be seen everywhere. The Mayor of Istanbul says the aim is to make Istanbul a tulip heaven. Spring has arrived in Istanbul as the 4th International Tulip Festival kicked off this week with rainbows of color splashed across the city’s landscape, where millions of tulips have been planted. As a flower that originated in the Near East, the tulip is a significant symbol in Turkish culture that dates back to the Ottoman period. Having lost its symbolic resonance in Turkey over the years, and as it became a flower that is ascribed to Holland, the mayor of Istanbul, Kadir Topbaş, embarked on a project to bring the tulip back to Turkey.>>
Museums of the Koç Family: Rahmi M. Koç, Sadberk Hanım, Pera - The Rahmi M. Koç Museum is located in the anchor-casting workshop at the docks on the north side of Haliç (Golden Horn), an area that symbolized industrialization in the Ottoman Empire in the 19th century. It includes a new, largely underground, building as well as the historical 'foundry' (Lengerhane) on the southwest part of site. Up the Bosphorus at a picturesque village of Büyükdere, the collections of the Sadberk Hanim Museum (The Vehbi Koç Foundation) fill two charming 19th century wooden villas. A private museum which originally displayed Turkish decorative arts, it has recently been expanded with a new collection of archaeological finds. Pera Project, which is planned by the Suna-Inan Kıraç Foundation, is composed of a museum, a research institute and a cultural center. The first phase; "Pera Museum", was opened in June 2005. The foundation purchased the Bristol Hotel in Tepebaşı in 2002. The building was constructed in 1893 by architect Achille Manousos. It was rebuilt, without changing the façade, according to modern museum concepts and standards.>>
Çanakkale: The city of antique, nature and modernism
The city of Çanakkale lies at the narrow, 1200 meter entrance to the Çanakkale Strait (the Dardanelles) that connects the Sea of Marmara and the Aegean. Passenger and car ferries run daily between Canakkale on the Asian side and Eceabat and Kilitbahir on the European side. Yachts navigating the straits stop at the well-equipped Çanakkale Marina to allow tourists more time in the area. Hotels, restaurants and cafes along the promenade, offer a place to enjoy the traffic in the harbor, as well as a view of the Kilitbahir Fortress and the Çanakkale Archaeological Museum. >>
Turkey:An Invitation To Mountain and Ski Lovers
Turkey's geographical position and conditions create great potential for skiing. Although Turkey is best known for its hot sunny Mediterranean resorts, swimming, sun bathing and water sports, there is much more to the climate than hot summers. Much of Turkey is mountainous, and many regions of Turkey have cooler climates than the major resort areas. With an average altitude of 1000 meters, the Anatolian Peninsula is covered with North Anatolian Mountains (2587-3932 m) in the North and Taurus Mountains (3086-4136 m) in the South. The Central and East Anatolian high plateaus are enchanted by extinct volcanic mountains such as Mt. Erciyes (3917) and Mt. Agri (5137 m). With many of these peaks experiencing snow cover for as much as six months or more, the potential for skiing here is very great.>>
Bursa International Silk Road Film Festival
The second of the International Bursa Silk Road Film Festival was organized last year between December 7th and 13th, 2007. As the first international film festival of Bursa, it has given the opportunity to people of Bursa and all cinephiles to spend a fun week. Nearly 100 films –40 of which, being feature films– from a wide spectrum of many different countries from Europe to Latin America including Sweden, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Belgium, Israel, Sri Lanka, Mexico and Brazil, have reached cinema fans. Also with its side events, and its guests approaching 300 who are actors, directors, writers and members of the media, it has been a festival with a resounding success. >>
18th Istanbul Art Fair prepares to host art lovers
The 18th Istanbul Art Fair, or ARTIST 2008, will host collectors and art lovers in four halls of the TUYAP Fair Convention and Congress Center from Nov. 1 to 9. The honorary awards at the fair will be given out Nov. 3 at a ceremony to take place in the Interexpo Hall. Mehmet Aksoy, a significant name in Turkish sculpture, will be this year's artist of honor. The critics honor award will be given to Güven Turan. The art-loving institutions' honor award will be received by the Besiktas Municipality, and Nahit Kabakci will be presented the collectors' honor award. >> Salvador Dali arrives in the city
Istanbul's Sakıp Sabancı Museum hosts the largest Salvador Dali exhibition ever organized outside Spain. 'A Surrealist in Istanbul: Salvador Dali' opened. The exhibition showcases 385 art pieces including 33 paintings, 113 drawings, 111 gravures and 12 litographs, as well as handwritten notebooks and letters by the artist. This is the largest exhibition that the Gala- Salvador Dali Foundation has organized outside of Spain and it includes many artworks that had never been on display at the Dali Theater - Museum in Figueres. >>
Bird Houses in Turkey
Bird houses are man’s humble offering to his winged, feathered friends, and one of the oldest and most important expressions of the love of and compassion for animals. The history of houses built for birds like sparrows, finches and swallows goes back a long way. Some of these tiny dwellings, whose numbers proliferated in parallel with the development of classical Ottoman architecture in the 15th century, indicate that they were being built, albeit on a smaller scale, already in the pre-Ottoman period. The purpose of these charming bird houses, which the Turks continued to build up to the 19th century, is to provide refuge to birds, who range freely through the skies but are consequently lonely to the same degree, and to protect them from storms, rain, mud and the burning sun. >>
YUNUS EMRE
His philosophy, metaphysics and humanism have been examined in various symposiums and conferences on a regular basis both in Turkey and abroad. We know little about the life of Yunus Emre because the sources available to us are precious, scant and uncertain. Almost every significant thing about his life must be drawn from his poems. >>
Five Examples of Western Composers Influenced by a “Turkish Theme”
As part of the fascination with Eastern culture, the “Turkish” theme is a source of inspiration in the area of music as well as other branches of art. Perhaps the first examples of this are two pieces by Mozart. The most important of these is one of the composer’s most beloved operas, “Abduction from the Seraglio,” because its subject, as well as its set and musical themes reflect the influence of eastern themes. >>
The Story of a Turkish Director at Cannes - The 61st edition of the Cannes Film Festival ended bringing victory to Turkish cinema. Nuri Bilge Ceylan won the Best Director prize with his latest drama 'Three Monkeys.' This year the festival also created a very good ground for Turkey's promotion thanks to efforts of the Ankara Cinema Association in organizing the Turkish pavilion with the contributions of Culture and Tourism Ministry. "Three Monkeys" was the favorite among 22 films for the prestigious Palme d'Or award. This film was Ceylan's third appearance at Cannes. At previous festivals, he won the Jury Grand Prize for "Uzak" (Distant) in 2003 and the FIPRESCI Movie Critics' Award for "İklimler" (Climates) in 2006, making this Ceylan's third prize at Cannes, regarded as the world's most prestigious film festival. >>
The pearl of Mardin: Deyrulzafaran Monastery
Children’s clothes and toys have been a focus of love and concern and a source of joy and happiness in every society since time immemorial. Before a baby is born, friends and family members all enthusiastically knit, weave and sew elaborately embroidered clothing so as to wrap the naked body of the tiny infant in mini-garments made with painstaking care in line with traditional beliefs. Such clothes are naturally shaped by the family environment as well as by the customs, traditions, beliefs and geography of their society. These millennia-old traditions still persist today in Anatolia, the cradle of civilizations for more than 12 millenniums. >>
From Clothes to Toys
Children’s clothes and toys have been a focus of love and concern and a source of joy and happiness in every society since time immemorial. Before a baby is born, friends and family members all enthusiastically knit, weave and sew elaborately embroidered clothing so as to wrap the naked body of the tiny infant in mini-garments made with painstaking care in line with traditional beliefs. Such clothes are naturally shaped by the family environment as well as by the customs, traditions, beliefs and geography of their society. These millennia-old traditions still persist today in Anatolia, the cradle of civilizations for more than 12 millenniums. >> The Year of Rumi
The proposal of the Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry of Turkey to declare 2007 as the “The Year of Mevlana” to mark the 800th anniversary of Mevlana Jelaladdin Rumi's birth was accepted by UNESCO. The commemoration works had been intensified after this decision in 2006 and they are expanded throughout 2007 all over the world. >>
Waterfront Legacy by Jessica Tamturk
While Istanbul's yali's (mansions) may be arguably the most sought after real estate in the world, their appeal - at least to Westerners - lies more in their history than as the symbol of wealth they project. So enthralled was Lord Byron by the site of these mansions lining the Bosphorus that he immortalized them in his poetic epic Don Juan: “Each villa on the Bosphorus looks a screen/New painted, or a pretty opera scene.”>>
Ottoman women, freer than you think
What would one call a strong, dominant Turkish woman? A sultan! Yes, the word is both masculine and feminine but is only rarely applied to the latter. Although such a woman is an exception in Turkish society today, she does exist. Actually in western society, one might refer to such a woman as your majesty even if there was no royal connection at all - but this has connotations of mockery. How is it that the Turks came to use the title of sultan in this way? >>
Weekend Getaways: Polonezkoy, Sile, Agva & Sapanca by Sandro Tucci
With the lazy dolce vita days of summer now gone, Istanbul is again abuzz with nervous energy and frantic vitality. Now it might be the perfect time to take a short break away from the hustle and the bustle of the city, enjoy the beautiful colors of autumn, indulge in your favorite activities and return refreshed and a little rejuvenated. In this issue we will take you to a few locations close to Istanbul, ideal to visit at any time, be it for a day or a weekend. >>
Brief history of journalism in Turkey
Newspapers only appeared in Western Europe after Gutenberg's invention of the printing press in the first half of the 15th century and the first newspapers were published in Germany during the early 16th century. Still it wasn't until 1720 that printing was introduced to the Ottoman Empire, 300 years after the printing press had been developed. >>
Catalhoyuk & Aksehir Adventures of Fred Moore
New discoveries await us. We're off to the Konya area to visit Catalhoyuk and Aksehir. As we travel north into the mountains signs of winter greet us. We've taken the autobahn and gotten well past Pozanti into the village of Ulukisla where the roads intersect for Konya and Cappadocia. It has snowed here in the not too distant past; there's standing snow in the shadows of many buildings. The Taurus Mountains are covered with a beautiful blanket of white; from this distance, the snow is postcard perfect. >>
Ihlara Valley offers an evocative visual show for visitors
The Cappadocia region offers visitors a distinctly extraordinary landscape and stunning natural beauty stretching over an area of 15,000 square miles. The Ihlara Valley is one of those unique spots located in the region, luring a great deal of tourists from all over the world with its natural and historical legacy. >>
Silifke, Anamur and more by Fred Moore
This is an adventure we will not soon forget; join us as we begin our journey to ‘no-where’ in particular. We’ve been talking to our friends about the long weekend and where we might go to get away; Gaziantep comes to mind, as does Kahramanmaras, Kayseri comes up in our conversation also but we talk of the possible rainy weather and brush them all aside. The Turkish Meteorology web site has been predicting rain, rain and more rain for this weekend. >>
The last great Ottoman artist: Levni
Levni was both the seal set on all the miniaturists who had preceded him and the intimation of what was to come in the Ottoman art world Professor Metin And could write as late as the mid-1970s that the study of Ottoman miniatures was a new subject. He points out that many miniatures were actually destroyed over the years because the human figure was depicted and in Islam it was forbidden. >>
Miniaturk is the showcase of Turkey
As of early spring 2003 it is possible to find a miniature version of the historic sites of Istanbul, Anatolia and former Ottoman provinces in one spot in Istanbul, namely Miniaturk. Located along the nostalgic Golden Horn, the location of the park is ideally situated in the city of Istanbul, Turkey's biggest city in terms of population and its opening window to the outside world. >>
Buke brings new vision to classical music
Burcin Buke is one of Turkey's most talented pianists and composers. After being trained as a piano soloist in Germany he joined Europe's leading orchestras on concerts and tours, winning several awards. He founded the Berlin Chamber Orchestra and was called a “wunderkind” when he played Mozart's sonatas at the age of 11. Buke has also carved out a niche for himself in the Turkish music market with his recently released album “W.A. Mozart for Babies.” >> Gengis Khan and his Heirs
S.U. Sakıp Sabancı Museum (SSM) celebrates the 800th anniversary of the foundation of The Great Mongol Empire by hosting an exclusive exhibition: "Genghis Khan and His Heirs - The Great Mongol Empire", between December 7, 2006 and April 8, 2007. The exhibition, jointly organized by the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Mongolian Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and sponsored by Garanti Bank, aims to show the links the Mongol Empire has established between cultures and continents.>>
Princes’ Islands: A Distinctive Destination of Istanbul
Just recently, the Council of the European Union declared Istanbul as the European Capital of Culture for the year 2010. During the elimination period, Istanbul challenged its competitors with an Aristotelian theme; “City of Four Elements”, where “Earth” symbolizes monuments and traditions that reflect the cultural richness, “Water” recalls the Bosphorus, Golden Horn and the Islands, “Air” refers to the minarets and church bells for the peace of religions, and last but not the least, “Fire” stands for the future, in other words; youth, technology and modern arts. >>
“Legislating History” – Assessment of the the Turkish-Armenian case by Dr.Yilmaz Arguden, Chairman, ARGE Consulting and former TAIK Chairman
Recently various Parliaments throughout the world started to get in the business of legislating history!! Generally this is done to satisfy the requests of minorities within their electoral districts. Unfortunately, such an approach is not only causing a serious dismay of millions of people whose voice is not heard just because they happen not to be living in these districts, but more importantly such parliamentary actions are outside their competence, in pure conflict with the principle due process, and try to limit some basic freedoms. >>
Venice - Istanbul
The Istanbul Museum of Modern art is happy to announce its second international exhibition, "Venice-Istanbul," a selection of works from the 51st Venice Biennial which will take place between October 18, 2006 and January 18, 2007, and is made possible through the support of Turk Telekom. The Venice Biennial, which sets the agenda for the art world, will move to our country for the first time in its 110-year history. >>
Belkis Balpinar´s ”contemporary artkilims”
Belkis Balpinar is a researcher, lecturer and co-author of various books on Anatolian rugs. She has taken the kilim beyond its traditional form and dimension by enhancing it with movement and depth. Since 1986, her career as scholar and artist has moved towards modern fiber art as a textile art designer, bridging the old with the new and novel. >>
The Image of the Turks in European Art
Throughout history, the Turks have had close relations with the Western Christian world. Europe and the Ottomans had become immediate neighbors on the Balkans and the Mediterranean since the westward expansion of the Ottomans. >>
The Genius of Leonardo Exhibiton at the Rahmi M. Koc Museum
Interactive exhibition of Leonardo da Vinci's inventions, each considered as engineering wonders, composed of all-functioning 1:1 machines will be held at Rahmi M. Koc Museums in Istanbul Sutluce and Ankara Citadel between November 2 and December 31, 2006. >>
Works of Rembrandt in Istanbul
Pera Museum of Suna and Inan Kirac Foundation opens the season with "Rembrandt and His Circle- Drawings" exhibition composed of designs by Rembrandt and his contemporaries from the collections of Rotterdam Boijmans van Beuningen Museum. >>
Right Place Right Time
Istanbul Modern is proud to host the resrospective exhibition of Goksin Sipahioglu, one of the most important Turkish photographers. Goksin Sipahioglu’s photograph exhibition entitled "Right Place, Right Time" opened on 7th September in Istanbul Modern. Realized with the contributions of Fortis and curated by Engin Ozendes, the exhibition will host 119 photographs of Goksin Sipahioglu, a prominent name of Turkish and global photojournalism for more than half a century. >>
Turkey’s First Private Museum Revisited: Sadberk Hanim Museum
Sadberk Hanim is a gem of a museum, too often overlooked by most because it is located somewhat out of the way in Buyukdere close to Sariyer, on the shores of the Bosphorus. From the outside, it looks deceptively small, but the two buildings - the handsome Azarian Yali and the Sevgi Gonul Wing - house a rich and varied collection that should be on all tourists' as well as locals (expats and Turks) list of “must visits” in Istanbul. >>
The Sweetest Traditions: Turkish Candy
Throughout the Western world, Turkey is synonymous with Turkish Delight, or - as it is properly known - lokum. This bundle of sugary joy has done wonders to market the delights of Turkey. Lokum serves as an apt symbol of Turkey in light of the fact that Turks have a notoriously sweet tooth as evidenced by other Turkish favorites including baklava. But lokum and baklava are only the tip of the sugar-berg. Turkey also produces some mouthwatering traditional candies that give you a natural high. Although they are not as varied or well known, candies play an important role in Turkish culinary culture. But before we look at the story of Turkish candy, we must examine the history of sugar. >>
The Asian Side's Answer to Highlife Seekers
Streets everywhere in the world are taking over our sidewalks, cars pushing pedestrians ever farther onto tighter walking spaces -- except on Bagdat Caddesi (Street). Here the municipality actually narrowed the street from four to two lanes, widening the sidewalks on either side to make more room for strollers and shoppers. Why it's called Bagdat Caddesi is anyone's guess though at least one local suggested that the street was part of a trade route between Istanbul and Baghdad. Bagdat Caddesi spans a great swath of the Asian side of Istanbul and for this article we will review the regions from Goztepe to Caddebostan, Erenkoy to Saskinbakal to Suadiye, including the Sahil Yolu (sea side street), which runs parallel. Though these neighborhoods are just a stones' throw from each other, each has its own distinct personality if you know where to look. >>
The Tespih Works in Mysterious Ways
"Ooh, what a pretty necklace," I exclaimed when I first laid eyes on a colorful string of tespih, or Turkish prayer beads. Fortunately, my Turkish guide immediately pointed out the beads' religious significance, preventing a big faux-pas on my part. His words were especially pertinent, as we happened to be traveling through Urfa at the time, a major place of religious worship in southeastern Turkey. >>
Istanbul's Greener Side
Far outside the city limits and largely accessible by car only, Zekeriyakoy, Demircikoy, Kilyos and Kemerburgaz offer the city dweller a day's reprieve, or a lifetime residence away from the urban hustle and bustle. Find your way to Zekeriyakoy via Sariyer; follow street signs up winding hillside roads until you reach this quaint town that looks like time stopped about 50 years ago. You'll see the odd cow, horse drawn buggy and villagers in traditional dress shuffling through narrow streets at the entrance of Zekeriyakoy. But wait! Drive a bit further down the steep main road and it suddenly gives way to vast, modern housing complexes complete with security guards at gated entrances. >>
Neighborhood: Istanbul’s Beyoglu & French Street
Beyoglu is without a doubt the place to measure the pulse of Istanbul. With its cacophonous sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and sometimes even feelings, Beyoglu is the place to see and be seen. Though seemingly impossible to describe, the area from Taksim to Galatasaray Lisesi (High School), plus “French Street” (Fransiz Sokagi) is the subject of our current sojourn. In order to explore the area, the Metro is the best way to arrive. >>
An Unusual Non-Profit Organization
The Cekul foundation is an unusual non-for-profit organization in that it does not have a roster of donors and does not actively recruit volunteers. “For us a volunteer is a proactive person who comes to us and expresses her or his genuine willingness to work with us,” says Deniz Ozesmi, Project Coordinator of the Cekul foundation. The Cekul foundation’s ‘work’ consists of educating the public about the environment and culture through hands on participation. It does this through community outreach and organized projects in which community members play an active role. >>
Burgeoning Alanya
Most of Alanya is spread out on the foothills of a small, lush mountain dominated by a beautifully preserved ancient castle. A major revitalization program, begun in the winter of 2002, virtually changed the face of Alanya. The old marina was expanded to allow large cruise ships to dock and is now lined with sailing vessels of every shape and size as well as new restaurants and cafes overlooking the picturesque harbor. In the meantime a brand new yacht marina eagerly awaited by sailing fans throughout southern Turkey was recently constructed. >>
Much Needed Empowerment from "Our Town"
Victims of Turkey's devastating 1999 earthquake may have, for the most part, recovered. However, the Sögütlü-Adapazari region, one of the hardest hit areas, is still experiencing widespread unemployment and grave housing conditions as an aftermath of the earthquake. The "Beriköy - Communities Building Communities" project was created specifically to address these issues in Sögütlü-Adapazari, located about 70 km east of Istanbul. >>
Armenian Church Restoration Supported by Turkish Government
The Turkish Government has allocated $1.9 million for the stabilization and conservation of the ancient Armenian Church of Akhtamar (Akdamar) on an island in the middle of Lake Van in Eastern Turkey. The Historical Heritage Protection Foundation (TMKV), based in Istanbul, and the New York-based Landmarks Foundation spearheaded the effort and are working closely with the local contractor, Mr. Cahit Zeydanli. The contractor is working according to stringent international standards in conjunction with an advisory architect appointed by the Patriarch of the Armenian Church, His Beatitude Mesrob II, as well as prominent American and Turkish universities. >>
Santa Claus is Turkish?
Most children in the West are told that Santa Claus or old Saint Nick hails from the North Pole. That he lives there year round with his wife, his team of reindeer and lots of crafty elves who fashion gifts in time for Christmas. We adults know that given the choice, St. Nick would choose to dwell in a warm, almost tropical climate rather than the blustery northernmost point on earth. And, in fact, old Father Christmas did in exist as a historic personality living under the warm Lycian sun as Bishop of Myra. His church and ex-tomb still remain as places of pilgrimage in the Turkish town of Demre (known also as Kale, near Antalya). >>
Turkey: For Snow Birds and Spa Seekers
With a comfortable sightseeing climate in spring, perfect beach temperatures in summer, ideal hiking weather in fall and lots of snowy mountaintops in winter, Turkey is truly a year-round destination. With winter on our heels, we highlight in this article some of Turkey’s premiere winter activities. >>
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