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The Istanbul
Archeological Museums hold outstanding
collections of art from
the ancient
Near East, Greece and Rome.
When archeology became a science in
the 19th century, most of the Near
East was ruled by the Ottoman sultan,
who got all the best stuff. These were
his
private collections, so they're pretty
amazing.
There are actually three museums here:
the Archeological Museum, the Museum
of the Ancient Near East, and the Tiled
Kiosk (Çinili Kösk).
The oldest stuff, in the Museum
of the Ancient Near East, (Eski
Sark Eserleri Müzesi) includes
one-of-a-kind treasures like the
tiled reliefs of lions and kings
from the fabled gates of
Ninevah, and the oldest
written peace treaty ever
discovered (cuneiform tablets which
preserved the words of the Hittite and
Egyptian kings).
The Archeological Museum (Arkeoloji
Müzesi) is devoted to later
stuff; ie, after about 500 BC, It
includes many of the finest Greek and Roman marble
statues discovered in Anatolia.
The Tiled
Pavilion (Çinili
Kösk) is among the oldest
Turkish secular buildings in Istanbul,
an elegant residence built by Sultan
Mehmet the Conqueror.
It's been beautifully restored and
is now an outstanding Museum
of Turkish Faïence. More...
Depending on your interest in very
old art, fine statuary and tiles, you
could spend between one and
four hours in the museum
complex. There is a lot to see, and
you may wish to come back for a few
more hours some other day.
The easiest way to reach the museums
is to go to the first court of Topkapi
Palace (the tree-filled area open
to the public without charge), turn
left about midway into the court, walk
down the cobbled street and look for
the museum complex on your right.
The entire museum complex is open
daily except Monday from 09:00 am to
17:00
(5 pm),
for YTL5.
Photograph as you like for no extra
charge.
In warm weather, a shady
cafe is open amidst a
forests of old columns, stones
and statues
in the courtyard.
Just down the hill from the Archeological
Museums is shady Gülhane
Parki, good
for a stroll in fine weather. More...
Tiled Pavilion (Çinili
Kösk)
Topkapi
Palace
Gülhane Parki
Sultanahmet
Hippodrome
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