The next destination of "Art Route," first organized by İBB Kültür AŞ at Istanbul Modern in July, will be the museums owned by İBB Kültür AŞ. During this tour, which will take place with participants registered through Radar Türkiye, art lovers will visit five museums: Şerefiye Cistern, Miniatürk, Panorama 1453 History Museum, İBB Kültür AŞ Digital Experience Museum, and the Basilica Cistern, accompanied by guides.

Kültür AŞ, a subsidiary of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, continues its "Art Route" tours with its museums after organizing the first tour at Istanbul Modern in July for world-renowned artist Olafur Eliasson’s first solo exhibition in Turkey, "Your Unexpected Encounter."

Visitors will embark on a unique artistic journey, discovering Şerefiye Cistern, Miniatürk, Panorama 1453 History Museum, the Digital Experience Museum, and the Basilica Cistern under the guidance of museum curators.

Registrations for the completely free "Art Route" are done through Radar Türkiye.

Program:

Şerefiye Cistern – Monday, September 16 / 10:00

Miniatürk – Thursday, September 19 / 13:00

Panorama 1453 History Museum– Tuesday, September 24 / 11:00

İBB Kültür AŞ Digital Experience Museum – Thursday, September 26 / 10:00

Basilica Cistern – Monday, September 30 / 11:00

Notes on the Art Route Museums:

Basilica Cistern: Located in Istanbul's Historic Peninsula, the Basilica Cistern is one of the few surviving early architectural examples and a significant cultural heritage site. It has been preserved by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality with a comprehensive restoration of its 1,500-year history. The restoration strengthened the city's largest enclosed cistern to withstand the anticipated Istanbul earthquake, and the site has been transformed into a modern museum. The Basilica Cistern Museum, hosting temporary exhibitions, contemporary art displays, and cultural events, continues to attract significant visitor interest.

Reopened in July 2022, the cistern is bustling with visitors during the day and also hosts cultural and artistic events after hours. To provide visitors with a more comfortable experience, a "Night Shift" session has been introduced, allowing museum visits from 19:30 to 23:50. This evening program offers a rich museum experience with surprise concerts, performances, and choirs.

Şerefiye Cistern: Known for its well-preserved original floors and Byzantine-era infrastructure, the Şerefiye Cistern has been transformed into an archaeological park after the removal of surrounding concrete structures. It is the oldest structure where the “360° Projection Mapping” system has been integrated. This 1,600-year-old site offers an immersive experience, allowing visitors to explore both the history of the Şerefiye Cistern and Istanbul's water culture.

Since June 2021, the ongoing "Mapping Project" offers a mesmerizing blend of art and technology, earning a MUSE Award for its global recognition.

Panorama 1453 History Museum: Panorama 1453 History Museum: The world's first fully panoramic museum, Panorama 1453, recreates the Conquest of Istanbul through a combination of 3D panoramic painting, models, sounds, and mapping technology. The museum offers an immersive experience of the conquest through the "Sultan Mehmed’s Dream" Projection Mapping show, a 10-minute visual journey that brings Istanbul’s history and the multifaceted leadership of Fatih Sultan Mehmed to life.

The museum also houses the "Sultan Portraits" exhibition, showcasing the portraits of 36 Ottoman sultans from Osman Gazi to Sultan Vahdettin. Additionally, it hosts the "Conquest in Miniatures" exhibition by contemporary artist Nusret Çolpan. The museum recently exhibited the "Fatih Medallion," brought to Istanbul in January 2023, which was commissioned by Fatih Sultan Mehmed 542 years ago.

İBB Kültür AŞ Digital Experience Museum: One of Europe's largest and Turkey's first fully digital museums, the Digital Experience Museum offers an innovative platform where local creativity meets global experiences. With various experience rooms equipped with 3D and 4D technologies, visitors can immerse themselves in interactive exhibits designed by Turkish software developers.

Covering 2,000 square meters, the museum includes spaces like the Digital Room, Virtual Reality Room, Immersive Experience Room, Augmented Reality Room, and Digital Corridor. The immersive experience area alone uses 30 4K projectors, making it a groundbreaking museum. Beyond its size and technical features, the VR section offers unique exhibition technologies, further distinguishing this museum.

Miniatürk: Miniatürk: Opened on May 2, 2003, Miniatürk brings together Turkey's rich architectural heritage, from ancient civilizations to the Ottoman Empire. Spanning a 60,000-square-meter area with 15,000 square meters dedicated to model structures, the complex includes a restaurant, café, gift shop, and other attractions like a ferry, model boat, mini train, and a helicopter simulation of Turkey and Istanbul.

Miniatürk also features the "Istanbul Model Exhibition," a detailed recreation of Istanbul’s Historic Peninsula from the 1600s to the 19th century. Developed over five years, this exhibition uses 10,000 miniature figures to capture the social life and historical events of the period.