"Evliya Çelebi's Istanbul" Exhibition Opens

The exhibition titled "Evliya Çelebi's Istanbul," organized in cooperation with the Bahçeşehir University Center for Civilization Studies (MEDAM), the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye and the General Secretariat of the Turkish Promotion Fund, opened at the Prime Ministry Istanbul Office Exhibition Hall in Dolmabahçe.

The opening of the exhibition was attended by Minister of State Mehmet Aydın, Minister of State and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bağış, Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Kadir Topbaş, Bahçeşehir University Chair of the Board of Trustees Enver Yücel, Bahçeşehir University President Prof. Dr. Yılmaz Esmer and Director of the Center for Civilization Studies Prof. Dr. Bekir Karlığa, as well as UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova, whose organization declared 2011 the "Year of Evliya Çelebi" on the 400th anniversary of his birth.

Speaking at the opening, attended by many guests, Irina Bokova said she was honored to attend the exhibition "Evliya Çelebi's Istanbul" opened by Bahçeşehir University. Saying that the life of the great traveler Çelebi is inspiring, Bokova said that the exhibition organized by Bahçeşehir University is also a tribute to the beauty and diversity of Istanbul. After the exhibition opening and cocktail reception, UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova, also gave a lecture titled "Building Bridges to the Future" within the framework of the "Alliance of Civilizations Istanbul Conferences."

The exhibition, consisting of visual and written materials on Evliya Çelebi's Istanbul, can be seen at the Dolmabahçe Palace Exhibition Hall until 20 February 2011.

About the exhibition:

Following UNESCO's declaration of 2011 as the "Year of Evliya Çelebi," the Bahçeşehir University Center for Civilization Studies (MEDAM) launched a comprehensive project on Evliya Çelebi. The project, which will include panels and conferences on the period and events of the life of Evliya Çelebi, author of one of the greatest works of world travel literature, also includes, in addition to the "Evliya Çelebi's Istanbul" exhibition, a documentary, a feature film and books introducing the countries Evliya Çelebi visited.