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Life as a Sultan, the Harem and the Topkapı Palace
Close to autumn, I want to dream of the life of a Sultan in the Topkapı Palace. Who among you has never dreamed of a “life as a Sultan”? Who among you has never heard of life in the Harem? The idealizations of the Harem and the sultan’s life, however, often do not correspond to reality. Of course, glitz and luxury were the order of the day, but life inside the Palace was not always as serene and peaceful as you might imagine. In the heart of shining Istanbul, there is a unique palace, in the world the most emblematic palace in the city, the Topkapı Palace, which we can…
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Love for the rose (Gül) and for the tulip (Lale)
The Turkish people have a love for all flowers, in fact our cities are full of flowered and manicured gardens, in particular we have a love for the tulip “lale” and for the rose “gül”. Tulip – Symbol of the sultans Originally, the tulip was a flower of Central Asian origin (like the Turkish people), which arrived in Anatolia with various migrations. In Anatolia, its cultivation began centuries ago and it was in these remote times that the passion of the sultans for this particular flower was born. In fact, the tulip, recalls the turban of the sultans … will it be the explanation of this passion? Perhaps, but the…
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The Turkish lullaby E bebegim e
With this article, I would like to tell you about sweetness and E bebeğim e, that is the Turkish lullaby. What’s sweeter than a mother putting her child to sleep? It is one of the most universal and natural gestures in the world. In any part of the world, mothers put their little one to sleep in one way or another. I, in fact, want to talk to you about how we, Turkish mothers, put to sleep our little ones whispering E bebeğim e, the Turkish lullaby. I state that in Turkey, children are not considered kings or queens, with the power to have everything at once. From an early age,…
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The Turks passion for dried fruit
Turks have a real passion for dried fruit, which I would personally would call an addiction. Let’s start with the fact that the vast territory and the varied climate allows Turkey to have a large supply of varied crops of dried fruit and fruit in general. Each area or region has therefore developed their very own specific products and offerings over the years. Black Sea, home of hazelnuts The climate of the Black Sea basks in its mild winters and cool summers. This very specific climate allows for large productions of hazelnuts, sought after by the largest brands, such as Ferrero for example, which uses them in the production of…
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The Pestemal, the traditional Turkish towel
Pestemal is one of the many symbols of Turkish culture. The characteristic hamam cloth, which in Turkish is called Pestemal, is part of the Turkish tradition. The origin of Pestemal It is thought that Pestemal originated in Anatolia in the 13th century and was used by the Turks during the moments spent at the hamam. Born from the Roman baths, the Turkish hamam became part of Turkish culture around the 11th century. Going to the hamam, in Turkey, is a widespread tradition among all walks of life, an opportunity to purify oneself but also to meet up with friends and socialise. Initially the Pestemal was simple and ordinary, but it…
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The oriental charm of the Hamam, the Turkish Bath
The Turkish bath, similar to the Roman baths, is still present in many cities in Turkey. The Hamam concept is not Turkish, but it has certainly been very successful in Turkey. The Romans are the true creators of the concept of public bathroom, with the creation of the baths. But we, unlike the Romans, use running water. The Turks are a very modest people, so in the Hamam you never completely undress. In fact, men have a cloth around their waist while women wear it to the height of the breast. The real Turkish bath has never been mixed. Turkish men and women, in a country of great modesty, could…
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The Turkish wedding and the magical night of henna
For a long time I had been planning to write an article on Turkish wedding. Many of you have already seen images on television, which are not always easy to interpret. Charming and fashionable young people, in very, perhaps too, traditional contexts, which sometimes seem not to correspond to the current state of affairs among the youth. The Turkish wedding Well yes, whether the Turks are educated, in career or in fashion, marriage is one of those stages in one’s life, which must be faced with respect for traditions and for one’s family. For the Turks, respect for this tradition is fundamental, because it means respecting one’s parents. I want…
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The Nazar Boncugu, history and legend of the Turkish Amulet
Is there a Turk who doesn’t have a blue amulet (Nazar Boncugu) hanging somewhere in the house? The answer is almost obvious, since even the most sceptical has had or worn, sooner or later, this famous amulet. Whether it’s the large format at home or the small one put on a brooch to offer at the birth of a child, NNazar Boncugu is everywhere in Turkey. As soon as you arrive in Turkey, you feel overwhelmed and enveloped by this characteristic deep blue object. It can be found hanging on cars, on keys, in the house above the doors or present on jewels such as necklaces, bracelets, earrings. What is…
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The rite of marriage in Turkey in the world
How the marriage in Turkey is observed ? Have you ever wondered how marriage is celebrated in other parts of the world? Across ages and countries, wedding traditions vary radically. They change the clothes, the colours, the customs or simply the rituals to say “yes/I want it!” Getting married means joining your loved one forever. This union is the basis of every society, wherever it is. Marriage in Turkey and in the world Let’s discover some wedding traditions around the world. Fabric matters: marriage in Nigeria Did you know that in Nigeria the choice of the fabric of the clothes is one of the most important moments of marriage? Curious,…
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Turkish breakfast, explosion of colours
Dear friends, many of you have been asking me for clarification on our enchanting Turkish breakfast which is part of traditions in Turkey, called “Kahvaltı”. In fact, there is no Italian who has not been impressed by the table full of colourful and appetizing delicacies. The Turkish breakfast is a fundamental meal of our kitchen because it is really very rich. It is a salty meal and is often the most important of the day. Tea, the mainstay of Turkish breakfast As you know by now, tea accompanies all our breakfasts. Tea is actually present throughout the day. The difficult choice between delicacies The Turkish breakfast can be divided into…

















