ISTANBUL - Istanbul Municipality and Fiba Holding will restore the historical Mevlevi Lodge in Galata neighborhood of Istanbul.
Holding a news conference, Istanbul Mayor Kadir Topbas said on Saturday, ''The Mevlevi Lodge, which was built in 1491, has served Istambulis for centuries. The lodge is a significant monument. Restoration efforts will start in the coming months and last for three years. It will cost about 1 million U.S. dollars.''
The Galata Mevlevi Lodge is one of the institutions which reflect the culture of its era. The Mevlevi Lodges which for centuries combined scholarship with music, had a great influence on the Turkish culture. A great number of people who came together in a Mevlevi Lodge environment were educated in various areas of fine arts.
The Mevlevi Lodge is the oldest Mevlevi Lodge of Istanbul. It was built in 1491, on the hunting grounds of Iskender Pasha who was a governor - general during the times of Sultan Bayezid. Its first master was Mehmet Mehmed Sema-i Celebi. The building was struck by fire during the reign of Sultan Mustafa III in 1766, but was replaced by the existing Mevlevi Lodge. . In later years, the building underwent repairs during the reigns of Sultans Selim III, Mahmud II and Abdullmecid.
The institution which carried out its activities until 1925 was once more restored between the years 1967 - 1972. The Mevlevi Lodge which was built as a complex contained rooms and spaces for pray, dervish cells, the quarters of the master, special prayer area for the Sultan, the section for the female members, library, fountain for the public, clock room, kitchen, mausoleums and an enclosed graveyard.
(UK)
13.11.2004 - 16:26:00