Museum of Turkish & Islamic Arts

This impressive museum is housed in the Palace of İbrahim Paşa, built in 1524 on the western side of the Hippodrome. İbrahim Paşa was Süleyman the Magnificent’s close friend and brother-in-law. Captured by Turks as a child in Greece, he was sold as a slave into the imperial household in İstanbul and worked as a page in Topkapı, where he became friendly with Süleyman, who was the same age. When his friend became sultan, İbrahim was made in turn chief falconer, chief of the royal bedchamber and grand vizier. This palace was bestowed on him by Süleyman the year before he was given the hand of Süleyman’s sister, Hadice, in marriage. Alas, the fairy tale was not to last for poor İbrahim. His wealth, power and influence on the monarch became so great that others wishing to influence the sultan became envious, chief among them Süleyman’s powerful wife, Haseki Hürrem Sultan (Roxelana). After a rival accused İbrahim of disloyalty, Roxelana convinced her husband that İbrahim was a threat and Süleyman had him strangled in 1536. The museum’s exhibits date from the 8th and 9th centuries up to the 19th century. Highlights include the superb calligraphy exhibits, with müknames (scrolls outlining an imperial decree) featuring the sultan’s tuğra (monogram). Look out for the exquisite Iranian book binding from the Safavid period (1501–1786). And whatever you do, don’t miss the extraordinary collection of carpets displayed in the divanhane (ceremonial hall) – it’s generally acknowledged to be the best collection of antique carpets in the world, and includes Holbein, Lotto, Konya, Uşhak, Iran and Caucasia examples. The lower floor of the museum houses ethnographic exhibits. Labels are in Turkish and English. The coffee shop in the courtyard of the museum also has tables on the terrace overlooking the Hippodrome.