Istanbul's contemporary art is bold, beautiful and breathtaking. It's little wonder that the creative output from Turkey's largest city is beginning to be recognised around the world. Explore Turkey's most prominent modern artists, and discover the prime places to soak up the contemporary art scene while visiting Istanbul.
It is inevitable that when man perfects an art skill, a stream of respect and admiration follows. This is true in particular areas of Turkey well known for developing certain handicrafts because many skilled artists and craftsmen, use simple tools or construct an item purely by hand. Despite the onslaught of modern machinery, skilled artisans still make a roaring trade in Turkey, and some of this can be credited to tourism and people’s desire for authentic souvenirs. It is worth looking at these trades history though because many flourished during a glorious era of the Ottoman Guild system.
Rumours that Leonardo DiCaprio might play Rumi in an upcoming biopic has prompted a surge of interest in the Persian poet. The Sufi scholar lived and worked quietly in Rum - modern-day Konya - until a chance meeting changed his life forever, prompting a huge body of poetry and the whirling dervish movement and dance that still captivates audiences today.
Still debating where to spend the summer? We think these 11 reasons might just convince you Turkey is the world’s leading summer destination. From culture to food to history to stunning beaches, there's something to tempt just about everyone. Join us on a short trip around the best Turkey has to offer: from the mysteries of Ephesus to the bustling peninsula of Bodrum to the cultural goings-on in Antalya
Some of the most creative designs, motifs, logos and stencil drawings are seen across a variety of districts, but the stand out neighbourhoods are usually around Istiklal Avenue, in Taksim Square; Tunel, Karakoy; Sishane; as well as Maltepe, Kadikoy and Moda. Is Istanbul street art graffiti or talent? Have a read of this blog and discover some of the best street art of Istanbul.
As interesting tourist attractions, and an eye into the past, museums highlight the best and worst of humanity and history. In Istanbul you will find an abundance of museums for you to discover and take a walk through Turkey's rich past and culture. In this blog you will find eight of our favourite museums in Istanbul that you just have to visit.
In Turkey, you will always find a celebration, whether that is a birthday, a family occasion, or a whole town coming together in a festival - Turks pull out all the stops to celebrate events successfully. Yearly there are several festivals that raise an eyebrow, and in this blog we present to top 6 weird and wonderful festivals that you simply have to see when you go Turkey.
A country of the magnitude of Turkey, the diversity, and history is sure to have many a book written about it throughout time. From travel guides, to romantic fiction, to historical events, there are hundreds of books for you to read about Turkey to get a flavour of what this magical country is all about. In this blog, we have gathered eight books that we have personally read and think expats and tourists would enjoy a read also.
A country so diverse and widespread, Turkey hosts over a thousand festivals every year - giving you a wealth of options to explore and embrace some Turkish culture while you are here. As expected, summer is prime festival season. While cosmopolitan Istanbul is the cultural centre of it all with several hundred festivals in the city alone, you can also venture out to destinations in Cappadocia or the sunny Aegean coast for a range of festivals and sunny delights to enjoy. We’ve narrowed down the list of options to give you our highlights of what to expect and what to put on your list to visit this summer. From live improvised jazz, oiled-up men wrestling like gladiators, and fun activities - these are just a few offerings in a mixed lineup of events
The prestigious and glamorous Cannes International Film Festival kicked off last week with the expected buzz generated in the film world whenever Cannes comes around every year. Amongst movies from all over the world, critically acclaimed Turkish director Nuri Bilge Ceylan has returned with another well received drama, Winter Sleep - can Winter Sleep win the Cannes Film Festival 2014? In this blog we give you a quick overview of Turkish cinema and Ceylan’s work so far, before offering up our pick of the films to make sure you catch a glimpse of at Cannes. With some extraordinary cinema and film experiences on offer, the festival is one not to miss this year.
Here is something for the film buffs: can you name 10 blockbuster films shot in Turkey without reading this article? Before you click in, note down how many movies you know were filmed in say Istanbul or other locations in Turkey. We shall give you a clue to start with: Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie featuring Hercule Poirot was shot in 1974.
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