The carpet museum of Istanbul is one of the most striking museums of Istanbul city located within Hunkar Kasri, a small palace in Sultanahmet mosque. The mosque dates back to the first years of the 16th century.
The carpet museum of Istanbul is among the most interesting museums in Istanbul, which attracts a large number of visitors. Stay with us to learn more about this fascinating museum and why you shouldn’t miss visiting it.
History of Istanbul’s Carpet Museum
On April 29 of 1979, Istanbul’s Carpet museum was inaugurated in a two-story building within Sultanahmet mosque’s Hunkar Kasri. The primary purpose was to showcase the beauty of weaving and creating carpets in Turkish culture and art. Weaving and designing rugs in Turkish culture is a valuable art that plays an important role in Turkish heritage and dates back an extended period.
In Istanbul’s Carpet Museum, you can visit the development history of this art over the past seven centuries. There are more than 800 carpets on display in Istanbul’s carpet museum from the 14th to late 19th century.
Istanbul’s carpet museum was first located in Sultanahmet’s Hunkar Kasri palace, but after a short period, they decided to relocate it to a new address. They reopened Istanbul’s Carpet Museum to Almhouse of Hagia Sophia, which was a soup kitchen from 1743. This building was the second home to Istanbul’s Carpet Museum in 1979.
Why is the Carpet Museum of Istanbul closed?
Unfortunately, Istanbul Carpet Museum has been closed for a few years now. Restoration is the main reason for the closing Istanbul Carpet Museum. Please take advantage of visiting this extraordinary museum cause it will reopen after restoration in a short period.
Artifacts and items that are on display in Istanbul’s Carpet Museum
As we mentioned before, Istanbul’s Carpet Museum exhibits more than 800 carpets and rugs from the period of 14th to 20th centuries. You can see the process of changing the art of designing and creating Traditional Turkish rugs and carpets.
Turkmen, Persian, Ottoman, and Caucasian-style rugs are exhibited in Istanbul Carpet Museum, which shows the beauty of various cultures with a long history in Middle East.
There are three galleries in Istanbul’s Carpet Museum, and everyone is devoted to a distinct collection. The first gallery is for Anatolian-style carpets with geometric shapes.
The second gallery of Istanbul’s Carpet Museum is where you will find Anatolian carpets from eastern and central parts of Anatoly from the 15th to 20th century.
On the third gallery of Istanbul’s Carpet Museum, you will see Ottoman-style carpets from the 17th and 18th centuries. Other items that are exhibited in the third gallery of Istanbul’s Carpet Museum are carpets and rugs from Suleymaniye Mosque and the Blue mosque of Istanbul.
Location and nearby attractions to Istanbul’s Carpet Museum
Istanbul Carpet Museum’s address: Alemdar, Foundations Regional Directorate Carpet Museum Sultanahmet Mosque, 34122 Courtyard/İstanbul, Turkey.
Some of Istanbul’s Carpet Museum’s nearby attractions are Hagia Sophia Mosque, Ayasofya Camii, Topkapi Palace, Istanbul Spice bazaar, etc.
Final words about Istanbul’s Carpet Museum
Carpet and kilim are symbolic and important parts of Turkish art and culture. Old Turkish carpets are very famous all around the world. If you are eager to discover the wonder of this traditional art, you should stay tuned for notification of Istanbul’s Carpet Museums reopening.
