Museum of Calligraphy

The fine art of calligraphy was the most important one in the Ottoman Empire. Sultans Beyazit II and Ahmet III were themselves masters in the art, and some of the more elaborate imperial seals (or tugra) were set to paper by their hands. Dedicated entirely to this art, the Museum of Calligraphy is the only one of its kind, housed in what was originally the medrese of the Beyazit complex, and in the 20th century, a municipal library. The museum exhibits illuminated Korans from all over the empire, tugras, official documents in elaborate script, and various tools of the trade, all displayed in the evocative workrooms set around a porticoed courtyard. The museum was closed for restoration on my last visit, so call ahead before going.

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