The Museum of Islamic Science and History of Technology is an impressive and fantastic museum displaying examples of copies of some of the inventions of Islamic Civilization during the creative period between the 9th and 16th centuries. The museum is a unique one in the world, that visitors may see the the evolution of the different scientific branches in Islamic civilization.
The museum was opened in 2008 and is situated in the former Imperial Stables building in Gulhane Park, on the skirts of the Topkapi Palace Museum. It is set on 3,500 square meters exhibition area and showcases a total of 570 samples of tools and devices, as well as model collections. With this specialties, it is the first museum in Turkey, and second in the world after the one in Frankfurt.
Most of these examples of copies were made by the Institute for the History of Arab-Islamic Sciences at the Johann Wolfgang Goethe University in Frankfurt, and based on the descriptions and pictures in the written sources, and some from the originals of the surviving works.
What to See
When you enter the museum, a large globe will show up in the garden and you’ll be excited. It is a reconstruction of an important achievements along the Islamic scientific tradition. What is interesting is that the map on the globe is surprisingly has an accuracy, as it was constructed by the order of Caliph al-Ma’mun in the 9th century.
Second unique display in the garden is the Ibn-i Sina Botanical Garden that houses the 26 types of medicinal plants that are mentioned in the second volume of Ibn-i Sina’s al-Kanun fi’t-Tıbb book.
The museum of two floors. On the first floor, you’ll see loads of maps and map drawings related to Mines, Physics, Mathematics-Geometry, Urbanism and Architecture, Optics, Chemistry and Geography.
On the upstairs you’ll see a Cinevision Hall where you can watch various visuals about the museum that include; Astronomy, Clock Technology, Maritime, Combat Technology and Medicine Department.
And also in all the exhibition halls of the museum, you’ll see models belonging to the works of Islamic scientists. Some of the must-see examples of copies of some of the inventions of Islamic Civilization include;
- A copy of the World Map drawn by Al-Idrisi based on the map of Caliph al-Me,
- Takiyeddin’s Mechanical Clock, from the year 1559,
- Elephant Clock and Hacamati, from the book of Al-Cezeri (from the year 1200),
- Abu Said Es-Siczi’s Planetarium,
- Abdurrahman es-Sufi’s Celestial Sphere,
- Khidr al-Hucendi’s Usturlab,
- Minute Scale working by Abdurrahman al-Hazini from the 12th century,
- Ibn-i Sinai’s Al-Qa’n fi’t Tıbb Medical Book.
Visiting Hours & Admissions
Open every day between 09:00 – 17:30
Ticket counters close 1 hour before the museum closing time.
Please double check hours and admissions from muze.gen.tr
How to Get to the Museum
You’ll find the Museum of Islamic Science and History of Technology inside the Gulhane Park (former stables building), in the Sirkeci neighborhood of the Fatih district. Situated just on the skirts of Topkapi Palace Museum. See the location map.
The most practical way to get to Gulhane Park is via Bagcilar-Kabatas tram (T1 line).
- The closest tram stop is Gulhane.
- From Taksim, take the funicular to Kabatas (from taksim Square) or funicular to Karakoy (from Tunel square) and than take the tram.
- If you stay at the Sultanahmet hotels, than you easily walk to the museum.
- You can walk from Eminonu as well.
Address: Gülhane Parkı Has Ahırlar Binası, Fatih, Istanbul
Tel: +90 212 528 80 65