Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum(Istanbul) Skip-the-line ticket with Guided Tour

The museum, which houses the richest collection of carpets in the world, has a large number of particularly striking carpets from the Seljuk Empire¸ the most important Turkish state prior to the Ottoman Empire. Rugs that were produced in Anatolia during the 15th, 16th, and 17thcenturies, are typically ornamented with geometric figures, Kufic designs, and animals, and are among the most valuable items in this section. Here, you also find exquisite rugs from Iran and the Caucasus.

Hand-written Qurans and hand-written decrees, acquittals, and monograms from Ottoman Sultans are also to be found in the museum’s collection. 

In the museum’s “Wooden Artifacts Section”, you can examine artifacts that date from Anatolia in the 9th and 10th centuries, as well as wooden artwork embellished with mother-of-pearl and ivory from Ottoman times.

There are also many stone artifacts on display in the museum. Some of the most fascinating stone items are the tombstones from the Seljuk era, which represent a branch of calligraphy quite different from the Ottoman version. Hunting scenes and mythological creatures such as gryphons and dragons are often featured on these tombstones.