The Museum of Innocence in Istanbul

The Museum of Innocence is a museum designed based on Orhan Pamuk's novel of the same name. The museum, which opened in Cihangir Çukurcuma, one of Istanbul’s cosmopolitan districts, was founded with the restoration of a nineteenth-century house. The museum, which has five floors, is created by displaying items from different parts of the book on each floor and is quite different from the classical museum concept. So, what are the details you can see at the Museum of Innocence and the story of the founding of the museum?

The Founding Story of the Museum of Innocence

Orhan Pamuk thought from the beginning that the novel and the museum should co-exist. The Museum of Innocence is a museum founded with the display of objects and objects set in a love story in the novel from 1974 to the 2000s. The building of the museum was completed in 2003. In 2008, the novel was finished. Then, in 2012, the museum was established and opened to visitors.

What is on display at the Museum of Innocence?

The Museum of Innocence has 83 showcases representing each chapter of the 83-part book. In these chronologically prepared displays, you see that the objects and items mentioned in the novel are displayed. When you see the items used in that period, you can feel as if you are experiencing that period. All the items and objects used by Füsun, one of the main characters of the novel, and exhibited in the museum, were collected by Kemal, who wanted to hide his love for Füsun. You can see the passionate love of Kemal and Füsun, the two lovers, the life of the period, and the traces of the events in the novel in these items. On the fifth floor of the museum, you can see translated versions of the Museum of Innocence novel into different languages, sketches of the novel, and project drawings intended for the museum. On the 574th page of the Museum of Innocence novel, a surprise awaits you. You will find that there is a disposable ticket that you can use at the entrance to the museum. The museum is closed on Mondays and can be visited on other days.