Sadberk Hanım Museum — Attraction in Sarıyer

One of my favourite museums in Istanbul.

This elegant 19th-century wooden family mansion is Turkey’s first private museum, founded by Vehbi Koç in memory of his wife Sadberk and located on the shores of the Bosphorus Strait.

The museum occupies two beautifully restored wooden mansions: the original Azaryan Mansion showcases exquisite Turkish‑Islamic art - think Ottoman embroidery, silverware, tuğra-engraved pieces and world‑class İznik ceramics - while the Sevgi Gönül annex presents nearly 20,000 archaeological treasures from Anatolia, from Neolithic clay tablets and Byzantine coins to Roman pottery - all displayed chronologically with care .

Walking through centuries in compact elegance, you feel centuries of Anatolian and Ottoman culture pulse through each room. The Ottoman textiles and calligraphies are standout pieces, and the chronological journey in the annex gives a beautifully curated overview of Anatolian heritage .

Why I loved it: the peaceful Bosphorus setting, elegant wooden interiors rich of historical treasures, and combination of Islamic art and Anatolian archaeology make it a deeply satisfying stop, even a short visit can deliver an hour-long...

This review is about two current exhibitions open to the public, October 2022. First a brief history of the museum as written at the official web page:

SADBERK HANIM MÜZESI

Vehbi Kog Foundation's Sadberk Hanim Museum is Turkey's first private museum intended to exhibit the private collection of Sadberk Koc, the wife of Vehbi Koc. The Museum was opened on 14 October 1980 at a building called the Azaryan Mansion in Sariyer-Büyükdere. Azaryan Mansion was built at the end of the 19th century and was purchased by Koc family in 1950. It was used as the family's summer retreat until they decided to convert the building into a museum in 1978. Between 1978-80, the building was subjected to a restoration project by Sedat Hakki Eldem and was converted into a museum. // On the ground floor is displayed an unusual collection of historical letter and documents wallets, some dating from 1700's. They belong to the private collection of Ömer Koç. All the wallets are embroidered leather with gold ornaments. This exhibition is a must to see. The top floor hosts a small collection of glass birds. The museum is open all days of the week except Wednesday's, entrence...

After years of thinking it was too far off the beaten path, we finally visited the Sadberk Hanım Museum—and what a revelation! The museum itself is absolutely fantastic, and the journey there is nothing short of delightful.

We embarked from Eminönü, taking a leisurely ferry ride along the Bosphorus to Büyükdere, warm cups of tea in hand from the onboard café. The museum visit with the scenic vouage was a perfect half-day excursion.

The museum is just a few minutes' walk from the pier, housed in two buildings, one of which is a historic 19th-century wooden villa. The archaeological collection is top-notch and diverse, showcasing artifacts that are often hidden away in other Islamic countries due to their explicitness. There's also an impressive array of Islamic art, including a fascinating circumcision bed! Before heading back to the city's hustle and bustle, we enjoyed a relaxing coffee in the museum's garden.

Don't let the perceived distance deter you—this museum...