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 This
first museum encompassing both Turkish and Islamic artifacts was
established within the organizational structure of the
Suleymaniye Kulliya (which means cultural and religious
complex) in 1914. The museum was moved to Ibrahim Pasha Palace,
which was built in the 16th century, in 1983. Ibrahim Pasha,
Greek by birth, was the childhood friend and first Grand vizier
of Suleyman the Magnificent. Ibrahim Pasha, who married
Suleyman's sister, was the first of a chain of "bridegroom"
administrators, a system that was traditionalized later during
the Ottoman Empire. The most unique characteristic of Ibrahim
Pasha's Palace is that it is the only personally owned palace,
other than the sultans' palaces. The palace building arises over
arches and encircles the central terrace in three directions. In
the galleries, pieces of art that come from all over the Muslim
world are exhibited. This collection comprised of artifacts from
many different fields of art, such as stone and terracotta,
metal and ceramic objects, glass works and hand-writing books,
has the most extensive inventory among museums of its kind.
The hand-made Turkish carpets, dating from the 13th to the 20th
centuries, specifically attract many visitors to the museum.
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Anatolian Kavak and Lighthouse