GALATA ANTIQUE HOTEL ISTANBUL
top istanbul attractions
13. Pera Museum
The Pera Museum, which opened its doors in early June 2005, is the first step of a comprehensive cultural endeavor that the Suna and İnan Kıraç Foundation has launched at this distinguished venue in the city for the purpose of providing cultural service on a variety of levels. An historical structure which was originally constructed in 1893 by the architect Achille Manoussos in Tepebaşı (İstanbul's most prestigious district in those days) and which was, until rather recently, known as the Bristol Hotel, was completely renovated to serve as a museum and cultural center for the project. Transformed into a fully-equipped modern museum, this venerable building is now serving the people of İstanbul once again.
The Suna and İnan Kıraç Foundation's collection of Orientalist art consists of more than three hundred paintings. This rich collection brings together important works by European artists inspired by the Ottoman world from the 17th century to the early 19th. This collection, which presents a vast visual panorama of the last two centuries of the Ottoman Empire, includes works by Osman Hamdi, regarded by art historians as the genre's only "native Orientalist" and of course his most famous painting The Tortoise Trainer.
Getting there from hotel: When you walk down to stairs in front of the hotel to the Mesrutiyet street turn right and follow the street for about 300 meters, you will see the museum on your right, next to Odakule.
The museum presents a versatile museological environment with its rich permanent collection, the comprehensive temporary exhibitions that it hosts, its conservation units, model educational programs and the various concerts, conferences and seminars held there.
Open: 10:00 - 18:00, closed on Mondays
Getting there from hotel: Take nostalgic tramway just in front of hotel to Taksim Square (or you may walk through Istiklal Street -15 min. walk). From Taksim Sqaure take the bus to "Sariyer" and get off the bus at "Cinaralti" stop (better to ask the driver first to warn you). Museum will be across to the bus stop.
The Rahmi M Koç Museum is the first major museum in Turkey dedicated to the history of Transport, Industry and Communications. Housed in magnificent buildings - themselves prime examples of industrial archaeology - on the shore of the historic Golden Horn, the collection contains thousands of items from gramophone needles to full size ships and aircraft.
Open: 10:00 - 17:00 on weekdays, 10:00 - 19:00 on weekends, closed on Mondays
Getting there from hotel: When you walk down to stairs in front of hotel, go across the street and walk to the main road to the west. Go across the road you will a see a bus stop. Take the bus to Alibeykoy or Haskoy which will lead you to in front of Museum.
Since the museum is not far from hotel, taxi is the most recommended option for this transportation.
Address: Mesrutiyet Cd. No: 119 34430 Tunel - Beyoglu/Istanbul/TURKEY Tel: +90 212 245 5944 Fax: +90 212 245 5947
