Working Number | Name | Holding Museum | Date | Materials | Curator Justification |
TR2 098 | Constantinople | Istanbul Archaeological Museums | 1883 | Paper | Constantinople was undoubtedly the foremost destination for European travellers to the region. With its multicultural, diverse population, its historic sites, the hustle and bustle of its markets and the unparalleled opportunities to network, the city compelled and fascinated those who visited. Many just passed through, but some – particularly artists and writers – lingered, or even stayed on for good. |
TR2 159 | Pera Palace Hotel | Istanbul University, Nadir Eserler Kütüphanesi (Rare Books Library) | 1892 | Photograph | Pera Palace Hotel was built in 1892 for the purposes of hosting passengers arriving on the Orient Express and was named after the part of Istanbul in which it is located. Alexander Vallaury, a French-Ottoman architect living in the city, designed the hotel in a blend of neoclassical, art nouveau and Oriental styles. |
TR2 141 | The Train Station from Anatolia | Istanbul University, Nadir Eserler Kütüphanesi (Rare Books Library) | Late 19th century | Photograph | Away from the capital Istanbul, the gradual expansion of the Ottoman railway network, particularly during the period of ‘Abd al-Hamid II (Abdülhamid II) allowed travellers easier access to more far-flung regions of the Empire. The first railway in Anatolia was built between İzmir and Aydın in 1860 by a British company. |
RO 037 | Postcards showing Romanian tourists in Egypt | National Museum of Romanian History | Beginning of the 20th century | | This postcard shows a group of Romanian tourists in Egypt. Up to the late 19th century, the African continent was little known in Romania, but by the turn of the 19th century, Egypt (and other African countries) became a popular holiday destination for wealthy Romanians. |
ET1 016 | Memorial of Sultan Husayn Kamil’s visit to the Islamic Arts Museum | Bibliotheca Alexandrina | 27 April 1916 | | Among the most popular tourist attractions in Egypt since the later 19th century is undoubtedly the Islamic Art Museum in Cairo. First opened on 28 December 1903, it is the largest Islamic art museum in the world, with artefacts from India, China, the Arab Peninsula, the Levant, Egypt, North Africa and al-Andalus (Andalucía). One of its most important visitors was Sultan Husayn Kamil of Egypt who visited in 1916. |
FR 069 | Hammam-el-Lif, Tunis. Seaside resorts and thermal springs | National Library of France | 1885 | | This poster, dated 1885, portrays Hammam-el-Lif which is a coastal town near Tunis. Known for its spectacular location and thermal mountain springs, wealthy tourists from all over Europe were attracted to it, particularly after the French occupation of Tunisia. |
SP 085 | Antonio del Valle y Serrano, Marquis of Villa-Huerta | Cerralbo Museum | 1889 | Paper; albumen print | Antonio del Valle y Serrano, marquis of Villa-Huerta, was one of the many European aristocrats who visited the “Orient” in the later 19th century to pursue his passion for galleries, museums, cultural sites, antiquities and artefacts, many of which he purchased along the way to add to the family’s collections once back in Madrid. |
SP 086 | Portrait of the Marquess of Cerralbo in a Turkish Garment | Cerralbo Museum | 1889 | Paper; albumen print | The Spanish Cerralbo family was among the many privileged European families that set off to discover the “Orient” during the 19th century. The Marquis of Cerralbo visited Istanbul with his family in 1889, collecting a fascinating array of folkloristic souvenirs. In line with “Orientalist” taste at the time, this portrait shows the wife of the Marquis wearing an Ottoman costume brought back from their travels. |
SP 102 | Waistcoat (Yelek) | Cerralbo Museum | 19th century | Hand-embroidered velvet | The Cerralbo family of Spain was among the many privileged families of Europe that set off to discover the “Orient” during the 19th century. The Marquis of Cerralbo visited Istanbul with his family in 1889, collecting a fascinating array of folkloristic souvenirs, including this waistcoat, today on show at Museum Cerralbo in Madrid. |
SP 096 | Purse | Cerralbo Museum | Late 19th century | Beadwork | The Cerralbo family of Spain was among the many privileged European families that set off to discover the “Orient” during the 19th century. The Marquis of Cerralbo visited Istanbul with his family in 1889, collecting a fascinating array of folkloristic souvenirs, including this purse, today on show at Museum Cerralbo in Madrid. |
SP 100 | Cup stand (zarf) | Cerralbo Museum | Late 19th century | Silver | The Cerralbo family of Spain was among the many privileged European families that set off to discover the “Orient” during the 19th century. The Marquis of Cerralbo visited Istanbul with his family in 1889, collecting a fascinating array of folkloristic and artistic souvenirs, including this cup stand. Together with a porcelain cup, the stand was used for drinking Turkish coffee, a much loved pastime. |
LB 021 | The Robert Muawad Private Museum | | 1911 | | Built in the neo-Gothic style in 1911, the Robert Mouawad Private Museum in Beirut presents the eclectic collections of its former owner, Henri Philippe Pharaoun. Pharaoun, who was an intrepid traveller both in the region and beyond, collected everything from Byzantine, Roman and Islamic to Chinese art. |
TR2 091 | Constantinople et le Bosphore de Thrace | Istanbul Archaeological Museums | 1841 | Paper | The introduction of steamships and trains in the 19th century promised a safer and more reliable travel experience. In its wake, travellers ventured ever farther in their quest for knowledge and enlightenment, business opportunities and new discoveries. On their return, many published books about their journeys and experiences, providing valuable information about countries, cultures and peoples in the process. |
TR2 096 | Description de l'Arménie la Perse | Istanbul Archaeological Museums | 1842–1845 | Paper | The introduction of steamships and trains in the 19th century promised a safer and more reliable travel experience. In its wake, travellers ventured ever farther in their quest for knowledge and enlightenment, business opportunities and new discoveries. On their return, many published books about their journeys and experiences, providing valuable information about countries, cultures and peoples in the process. |
TR2 088 | Description de L'Egypte: Antiquités Planches | Istanbul Archaeological Museums | 1809–1829 | Paper | The seismic political developments of the 19th century helped to spark far-reaching public interest in Europe with regard to the Middle East and North Africa. Description de l’Égypte comprised a series of volumes, appearing first in 1809 and continuing until the final volume was published in 1829. The work contained a comprehensive scientific description of ancient and modern Egypt as well as important facts relating to its natural history. |
LB 059 | Beaufort Castle | | 12th century | | The romantic ruins of the medieval-period Beaufort Castle in the Nabatieh region of southern Lebanon has attracted consistent streams of tourists over the centuries, not least due to its Crusader connections. The fortress has survived earthquakes as well as warfare. |