Private Tour Guide in Istanbul

Anadolu and Rumelihisarı were built on the two shores of the narrowest point of the Bosphorus waterway, one of the strongest waterways in the world. As of 1390 AD, the Anatolian shores of Istanbul were completely under the control of the Turkish forces, and the first rehearsals of the conquest began over the Anadoluhisarı, which was built afterwards. When the calendars show the year 1452, Rumelihisarı, which was built in a short period of four months on an area of ​​30,000 m2, is now a harbinger of conquest. The two fortresses, located opposite each other on the Bosphorus, are the oldest structures of Ottoman Istanbul and have been the starting points of the development of the Turkish-Islamic Civilization in Istanbul, with their first Turkish quarters and their social and economic structuring as well as military success. Anadoluhisarı and Rumelihisarı are the oldest settlements in Ottoman Istanbul. Rumelihisarı was built in order to keep the passage of ships passing through the Bosphor...

Turkey is a country with a product variety in agriculture and animal products due to its geographical location. It also has a rich culinary culture as it is a country that brings different cultures together. Today, the geographical indication application carried out by the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office is used to transfer and protect this rich heritage from generation to generation. To date, a total of 32 different types of cheese have been applied for. Of these cheeses, Antep Squeezed Cheese, Diyarbakir knitted cheese, Edirne white cheese, Erzurum "çivil" cheese, Erzincan Tulum Cheese, Ezine cheese, Karaman ''Divle'' Cheese, Kars cheese, Yozgat ''çanak'' cheese, Malkara Aged Cheese and Van herby cheese are the cheeses that are entitled to receive geographical indication. It is aimed to transfer these cheeses to future generations by taking geographical indications in order to identify and protect these cheeses with Turkish culture.

  BACCARAT CRYSTALS  The glass factory in Baccarat village was established with the order of King Louis XV in 1764 and crystal production started in 1816. The factory, which gained an international dimension with its magnificent mirrors, chandeliers, candlesticks, tableware and deco- rative objects, has become a brand in world crystal production. In 1855, the Baccarat Factory participated in the World Fair held in Paris with special products and received great interest. Some of the designs in the factory were also inspired from Antique Period, Far East and Middle East. In 1867, during his visit to France, Sultan Abdülaziz purchased many works produced in the Baccarat Factory. Towards the end of the 19th century, Baccarat became the first factory to produce perfume bottles for famous perfume producers. In the National Palaces Collection, the Baccarat Factory products include mirrors, crystal chandeliers, candlesticks, tableware and decorative artifacts. In addition there are al...

Ottoman Clocks  While timing was the work of the timekeepers in the Ottoman society, and while unlimited number and variety of clocks entered the palaces and cities from the west throughout the empire, we had very few mechanical watchmakers, who were more polished and valuable by this few. Our grandfather Ahmet Eflaki Dede, Mehmet Şükrü, Ahmet Gülşeni Mevlevi, Şeyh Dede, the great mathematician and astronomer Süleyman Leziz, Edirneli İbrahim, Mustafa Aksarayî from Yenikapı Mevlevi Lodge... These watches are Turkish-alafranga double-dial, calendar, They are astronomical, very precise, handmade watches, some of them with music, the outer casing of which reflects the craftsman who made it completely, since there is no workshop or continuation of tradition. These masters, most of whom grew up in Mevlevihanes, produced one or a few hours in their lifetime, alone, without institutionalization, without cooperation with business lines, with their own dreams and dreams, endless patience and...

  Ottoman Edged Weapons Depending on their sizes, forms and functions edged weapons used by the Ottomans were sword, yataghan rapier, daggers (kama, hançer) and axe. Axes and halberds are edged weapons used for striking. Axes consist of wide iron or steal surface in various forms sharp on one side and placed on wood or iron metal handle carrying the main body. Axes carried with both hands were used by infantry during grapple fighting and small axes used with one hand with small handles were used by cavaliers and by marine forces during assaults using horses and alongside ship combats. Smaller versions of edged weapons used by the Ottomans were kama and ordinary dagger (hançer). Blade of a kama is both narrow and sharp on both sides (with two muzzies) and becomes sharply pointed towards the edge. Ordinary dagger on the other hand is a piercing and edged weapon which is smaller than kame with a slightly bend blade. Bow and Arrow Und the beginning of the 17 century the most effective ...

  In 1882 art education became available to civilians with the establishment of the Academy of Fine Arts (classes started in 1883). The 1914 Generation artists were graduates of this school who went on to study in Europe and upon their return home launched a new era in Turkish painting. The transitional period between the Ottoman Empire and the Turkish Republic was shaped by these artists, who introduced a new form of narration to painting. Taking local cultural values as their starting point, they endeavoured to present a new outlook on life to society at large. While the 1914 Generation artists painted popular views of Istanbul's islands, pine woods, bays and mosque courtyards, Nazmi Ziya Güran declared that "art is not for art's sake but for the people". Hilmi Ziya Ülken likened the work of the 1914 Generation to the new movement in literature known as Fecr-i Ati (Future Dawn) that emerged in 1909: "They found what they had sought in Fecr-i Ati literature in p...

  The foremost representatives of Ottoman painting are Osman Hamdi Bey, Şeker Ahmet Paşa, Süleyman Seyyit, Halil Paşa, Hüseyin Zekal Paşa, Hoca Ali Riza and Ahmet Ziya Akbulut. Apart from Osman Hamdi Bey, all these artists had trained at military schools, where they obtained their first knowledge of perspective painting. Osman Hamdi Bey, Şeker Ahmet Paşa and Süleyman Seyyit, who all lived in Paris around 1860-1870, and Halil Paşa, who went to Paris a decade later, are the artists who founded modern Ottoman painting. These artists trained at the Paris studios of renowned artists like Jean-Léon Gérôme, Gustave Boulanger, Alexandre Cabanel and Gustave Courtois. During their time in Paris Ottoman artists not only studied academic painting, but adoped the landscape style of the Barbizon School and were influenced by artists like Gustave Courbet and Fantin-Latour. After 1870 painting in Turkey was largely shaped by these Paris-based art movements, consisting particularly of landscapes, t...

Have you heard the story of Cafer Erol, the confectioner of 215 years? Cafer Erol's grandfather, Mehmet Efendi, came to Istanbul in 1807 and opened a candy store in Eminönü. The family, experiencing economic difficulties after World War I, lost their shop due to the Great Istanbul fire. Mehmet Efendi is forced to immigrate with his son and grandchildren to their hometown Kastamonu Taşköprü. Cafer Erol returns to Istanbul in 1935 and opens three shops in Eminönü, Beyoğlu and Kadıköy. Then in 1945 he starts to run a single shop. In 1965, Cafer Erol's children grew up and were old enough to help their father. In 1992, her children join the journey of Nurtekin Erol, who has been at work since then. This adventure, handed down from generation to generation, continues today as 7 branches in Istanbul and 1 branch in Izmir.