Istanbul, 7 Feb (ONA) --- The Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum in Istanbul, Turkey after it was restored and developed, is considered one of the largest Islamic arts museum in history.

The museum is located near the famous Sultan Ahmed Mosque (the Blue Mosque) in Istanbul, and was originally a palace of Ibrahim Pasha in 1524 AD. Afterwards, the contents of the Museum of Islamic Endowments were transferred to it, making it become the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum since 1983.

Ismail Yagci, a Turkish historian said in a statement to Oman News Agency (ONA) that the museum highlights ancient Turkish life during the Ottoman Empire, due to its unparalleled treasures and artifacts, indicating the development of arts in the Islamic world.

The museum houses 15,000 manuscripts dating back to the period between the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, displaying the development of the city’s history. It also contains carpets that are among the rarest collections of carpets in the world, as well as copies of the Holy Qur’an and boxes for their storage.

The museum also sheds light on the blending and harmony between the local culture of the Turks and the Islamic culture.