Temples of Knowledge: Museums to Visit in Beşiktaş

Eva Stachniak “Museums are temples of knowledge. A source of light that illuminates the darkness and is proof of the infinite variety in life.” We adopted the saying, turned our route to the European Side of Istanbul and compiled the museums to visit in Beşiktaş. Come on, let’s discover the temples of knowledge!

Âşiyan Museum

Âşiyan Museum is the first poet’s house in Turkey to become a museum. This house, whose project was prepared by the poet and painter Tevfik Fikret himself in 1906, is where time turns into space. Tevfik Fikret spent the last nine years of his life in Âşiyan, which means “home” in Persian. It was converted into a museum after the poet’s death in 1915. It was purchased by the Istanbul Municipality in 1940 and opened as the Edebiyat-ı Cedide Museum in 1945. In 1961, when Tevfik Fikret’s body from the Eyüp cemetery was transferred to the garden of the villa, it was named Âşiyan Museum.

Located on the ridge of Rumelihisarı, Aşiyan Museum offers its visitors the endless variety of life with its 9 sections including its garden. The first thing that will catch your attention in the Hall section at the entrance of the museum is the wax statue of Tevfik Fikret on the right. On the left is the Sis painting made by Şehzade Abdülmecit Efendi, inspired by Tevfik Fikret’s poem “Sis”. The room next to the painting is the Abdülhak Hamit Tarhan section, where Abdülhak Hamit Tarhan’s belongings and the bottle of medicine he drank before his death are located.

Tevfik Fikret’s bed and study are exhibited on the upper floor of Aşiyan Museum. On the left side of the bed is the mask made by Mihri Hanım. Tevfik Fikret’s death mask is the first mask work made in Turkey. When you open the window of the room, the magnificent Göksu view gives you a sense of relief. When you go down the stairs, there is the Şair Nigar section. Other sections are; Dining Room, Kitchen, Laundry and Garden. You can also see the thank you note that Atatürk wrote to Tevfik Fikret in the museum. (“I took the spirit of revolution from Fikret.” Atatürk, who said, visited the museum on the third anniversary of the poet’s death and left a thank you note.)

The Bosphorus view of the Aşiyan Museum, which makes people fall in love with it, is proof of Tevfik Fikret’s love for nature. Entrance to the museum is free. Moreover, there is an audio guide device. You can visit the museum every day except Mondays between 09:00-17:00.

Maritime Museum

Opened in 2013 and located close to the Beşiktaş coast, the Maritime Museum is the largest maritime museum in Turkey. It is one of the few museums in the world with its collection variety. It offers its visitors a unique tour with its Main Exhibition Building, Historical Boats Gallery, Cultural Site and Open Exhibition Areas. Ships, boats, galleys, and manuscripts illuminate the horizon. The most striking place in the museum is the Atatürk Room and the Sultan's Boats section. When you enter the Maritime Museum, you are greeted by lifeboats, boats, and sails. When you go a little further, you are greeted by the area where small lifeboats are located. Then, you travel into history in the sections related to the Ottoman and Republican era navies. After the historical journey, you will discover the Maritime Museum after visiting the submarine section. You should not leave Beşiktaş without visiting the Maritime Museum, which takes you back to the past and fascinates you with its view.

You can visit between 09:00-17:00 on weekdays except Mondays, and between 10:00-18:00 on weekends.

Palace Collections Museum

The Palace Collections Museum is an example of modern museums. Objects that bear traces of daily life in 19th century Ottoman palaces are exhibited. When you enter the museum, you will be greeted by the cuteness of children's clothes. In the continuation of the tour, original examples from the period when the Ottoman dynasty followed the developments in the world, the dentist unit used by the first Dentistry School opened in Turkey in the past, objects used in Dolmabahçe Palace, porcelain and silver dinner sets, Hereke carpets, a handwritten Quran, and a collection of decorative tools are noteworthy. It is possible to examine the works and tools of Abdülmecit, one of the important performers of painting in the palace, in the museum.

You can visit the museum between 09.00-17.00, except on Mondays.

National Palaces Painting Museum

The National Palaces Painting Museum was opened after 11 years of restoration work in the Crown Prince's Office of Dolmabahçe Palace. The National Palaces Painting Museum, which is the center of attention of museum lovers with its architecture and interior design, consists of 34 exhibition halls. It has a unique collection with 553 works. At the National Palaces Painting Museum, it is possible to experience the magnificent works of important artists such as Zonaro, Osman Hamdi, Şehit Hasan Rıza, Ayvazovski, Feyhaman Duran. You can see the paintings of local and foreign painters belonging to many ships that were manufactured and maintained in Ottoman shipyards. When you leave the museum, a wonderful view and palace architecture will greet you in the front garden. You will love the cafe where you can have a pleasant time, which is open in the Limonluk section of the museum garden. You can visit the National Palaces Painting Museum between 09.00-16.00. It is closed on Mondays.

Written by: Nilda Paşaoğlu