“The exhibition sheds light on the glorious history of a city that has served as the capital city for the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires from Byzantion to New Rome, from Constantinople to Istanbul, and it brings together treasures scattered among various countries through trade, gifts and historic events such as the looting of the 4th Crusade.

The exhibition is hosting selected works from leading institutions in England, Germany, France, Italy, the Vatican, Hungary, Greece, Austria, Belgium, Holland, Ireland, Qatar, Portugal, and Russia. The exhibition also includes works selected from state museums, private museums and collections in Turkey and brings together, for the first time, a range of different pieces chosen from a total of 58 museums, 39 of which are located abroad and 19 in Turkey.

The exhibition tells the story of Istanbul’s transformation from a Roman garrison to the capital of the empire after the separation of Rome into East and West, the stages of growth, stagnation and collapse experienced during the Byzantine Empire and its rebirth after being conquered by the Ottomans in 1453 while presenting the times of upheaval and the golden eras in the history of this capital of empire, which in a sense, is woven into the tapestry of European history. The rich tradition created by the diverse religious heritage of the city is presented. The comprehensive exhibition catalogue, which includes articles from 20 foreign and Turkish academicians as well as colorful visuals, serves as a valuable reference for everyone interested in Istanbul as it touches on the socio-political, cultural and historical aspects of the city during different periods.” (sakipsabancimuzesi.org)

• Construction management in coordination with designer company General Productions y Diseno
• Support for local suppliers and workmanship