Pera Museum

Overview

The Suna and İnan Kıraç Foundation's Pera Museum occupies a grand 19th-century Tepebaşı building and rotates Ottoman-era Orientalist paintings, Kütahya ceramics and international touring exhibitions.

Highlights

• Orientalist collection: Osman Hamdi Bey's 'The Tortoise Trainer' is the centrepiece.
• Anatolian weights: A globally important collection of ancient balance weights.
• Touring exhibitions: Recent shows have brought Frida Kahlo, Ai Weiwei and Picasso to Istanbul.

History

Founded in 2005 by the Koç family, the museum was conceived as a bridge between Turkish and international art worlds, housed in the former Bristol Hotel.

Visitor Tips

• Tip: Free admission on Wednesday evenings.
• Duration: 1–1.5 hours.