Çinili Köşk

It is the first building commissioned by Fatih Sultan Mehmet in Topkapı Sarayı, opposite the Archaeology Museum. The two-storey summer pavilion dated 1472 is an early Ottoman example under Seljuk influence with its façade enlivened by columns, its iwan terrace and its cut-tile decoration. A long inscription is located on the entrance wall. The entrance section is a domed space, with vaulted rooms on the sides. Ceramics and tiles belonging to the 13-19 century Seljuk and Ottoman periods are exhibited in chronological order. 16 century İznik-made tiles are among the important works of the museum. The pavilion, commissioned by Fatih Sultan Mehmet in 1472, is one of the oldest examples of Ottoman civil architecture in İstanbul. It was used as Müze-i Hümayun (Imperial Museum) between l875-1891. In l953, it was opened to visitors under the name Fatih Museum, where Turkish and Islamic works were exhibited, and in 1981 it was transferred to the İstanbul Archaeology Museums due to its location.

The entrance façade of the pavilion is single-storey, while the rear side is two-storey. At the entrance there is a 14-column marble portico. The entrance iwan is decorated with mosaic tiles. Various tiles and ceramics from the Seljuk and Ottoman Periods are exhibited in the pavilion, which consists of 6 rooms and a central hall. There are approximately 2000 works in the museum and its depots. In the collections of the Çinili Köşk Museum, there are around 2 thousand works belonging to the Seljuk and Ottoman periods dated from the 11th century to the beginning of the 20th century. The collections of the Museum consist of the works that existed when it was attached to the Directorate of the İstanbul Archaeology Museums in 1981 due to its proximity in location, and works found in archaeological excavations, acquired through purchase, donation and confiscation. The tiles and ceramics selected from these collections are exhibited in a layout continuing from the left of the entrance: Seljuk Period in the room to the left of the entrance, slip technique and Milet ware in the outward-opening iwan on the left side, İznik-made in the five-cornered projecting room together with the central hall, Kütahya-made in the right corner room facing Gülhane Parkı, and Çanakkale-made works in the outward-opening right iwan.

Places to Visit in İstanbul Address: Alemdar Cad. Osman Hamdi Bey Yokuşu Sok. Gülhane Fatih İstanbul