Asiyan Museum — Attraction in Beşiktaş

Aşiyan Museum, nestled in the charming district of Rumelihisarı, offers a unique glimpse into the life of Tevfik Fikret, one of Turkey's most celebrated poets, authors, and painters. The mansion, originally called "Aşiyan" or "bird’s nest," was home to Fikret from 1906 to 1915, a period during which he wrote some of his most influential works. It is here that the poet spent his final years, surrounded by literary figures and immersed in his creative endeavors. Fikret's deep connection to the house is reflected in its design, which he himself conceived.

The mansion was purchased by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality in 1940 from Fikret’s wife, Nazime Hanım, and transformed into a literary museum in 1945 with the efforts of Lütfi Kırdar, the Governor and Mayor of the time. In 1961, Fikret’s remains, previously buried at Eyüp Cemetery, were relocated to the garden of the mansion, solidifying its significance as a site of literary heritage. As a result, the museum was renamed "Aşiyan Museum."

The museum showcases Fikret’s life and works, with rooms arranged as they were during his lifetime. The building consists of three stories, including a masonry ground floor and two wooden upper floors. Visitors are greeted in the ground floor hall, which is noted for its domed ceiling and pencil decorations. Here, a notable piece on display is the painting Sis, created by the last Ottoman caliph, Abdülmecit Efendi, inspired by Fikret’s own poem. This hall also features a wax statue of the poet.

A small resting room adjacent to the hall displays portraits of key figures from the Edebiyat-ı Cedide movement, along with a picture of Recaizade Mahmut Ekrem by Abdülmecit Efendi. On the first floor, Fikret’s study and bedroom are preserved as they were. His desk, paintings, library, and a door leading to a bridge that connects to Robert College, where he often interacted with students and fellow intellectuals, provide visitors with a profound sense of his daily life and intellectual environment.

Although photography is not permitted inside, visitors are still allowed to capture the breathtaking view from the poet's bedroom window, offering a glimpse of the stunning landscape that inspired his work. Admission to Aşiyan Museum is free, making it an accessible cultural treasure for those wishing to explore Turkey’s...

First thing first, it's worth all that climbing! The down side is that you're not allowed to take pictures, except for the view from the bedroom window. This house is where the poet, author, painter Tevfik Fikret lived and buried. Admission is free.

This mansion is where the great Turkish poet Tevfik Fikret lived between 1906-1915. In 1940, the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality bought it from his wife Nazime Hanım. The mansion was opened to visitors in 1945 as the first literary museum in Turkey under the name of Edebiyat-ı Cedide Müzesi with the effort of Lütfi Kırdar, the Governor and Mayor of that period.

The body of the poet, which was previously in the Eyüp Cemetery, was transferred to this garden in 1961, which he liked very much with its natural appearance. After this date the museum was named as "Aşiyan Museum".

Tevfik Fikret drew the projects of his mansion named "Aşiyan" (bird's nest) in Rumelihisarı where he spent some of his life, writing poems, maintaining relations with his literary friends and closing his eyes to life.

Today: Aşiyan was arranged and exposed as in the period where Fikret lived. The building is a three-story mansion with two wooden floors on a masonry ground floor. The hall on the ground floor of the building is where Fikret welcomes its guests. The domed ceiling and pencil decorations of the hall attract the attention of the visitors. The picture of "Sis", which was made by the last Caliph Abdülmecit Efendi, influenced by Tevfik Fikret's Sis poetry and presented it to the poet, is on display at the same place in Fikret's lifetime. This section also contains the wax statue of the poet.

The small room next to the hall is where Fikret used as a resting room. The photos of representatives of the Edebiyat-i Cedide movement and the picture of Recaizade Mahmut Ekrem made by Abdülmecit Efendi are on display in this part. Tevfik Fikret's study and bedroom are on the first floor of the mansion. In the study room, there is a desk designed by the poet, his paintings, library and the door to the bridge that connects to...

Aşiyan Museum is the house of famous Turkish poet Tevfik Fikret at Aşiyan neighborhood of Beşiktaş district in Istanbul. It was built in 1906 and later in 1945 converted to a museum.

Tevfik Fikret lived in the house from 1906 until his death in 1915. The building was acquired in 1940 by the municipality from his wife Nazime with the initiative of Lütfi Kırdar, Mayor and Governor of Istanbul, and was converted into a museum named Museum of New Literature (Ottoman Turkish: Edebiyat-ı Cedide Müzesi‎). The museum opened in 1945. The museum was renamed Aşiyan in 1961 after the remains of Tevfik Fikret, which initially were buried at the Eyüp Cemetery, were taken to his home's yard he liked very much due to its panoramic view of Bosporus.

Tevfik Fikret designed the architectural project of the house by himself, and named his house "Aşiyan", which means "nest" in Persian language. The house is a three-story wooden building...