This is an underrated gem in Istanbul. It is located within the grounds of Topkapi Palace but probably attracts only a fraction of the visitors, which made the place less crowded for people like me who truly love museums and their exhibits. Inside, the treasures are breathtakingly beautiful and very well displayed, with Turkish and English inscriptions. It is a place that deserves a whole day and probably return visits. For now, here are just a few of my favourite pieces.
 |
| The famous Alexander sarcophagus. Seeing is believing. |
 |
| The Sidamara sarcophagus, a glorious masterpiece of marble carving |
 |
| Glazed tiles from the Ishtar Gate. I once saw similar tiles on a grand scale at the Pergamon Museum, Berlin. There, they had a whole gate, which the Germans had plundered from Iraq |
 |
| One of the many stunning sculptures |
 |
| Islamic ceramics |
 |
| Entrance to the Museum of Islamic art, featuring magnificent tiles |
 |
| An exhibition featuring mosaics from Ravenna, Italy |
 |
| Mosaic from the Roman times |
