Whatever can be said about the Tulip Festival in Istanbul will be little. A fairy tale of colorful compositions, magical colors, spring magic… Istanbul in April is an extravaganza of lush paintings, overflowing with the entire palette from saturated and bright to gentle and pale colors of Her Majesty Nature. There is a legend in Turkey that happiness is hidden at the bottom of the tulip. The Turks believe that when you see a tulip for the first time, you fall in love with it forever, like with a beautiful woman.
The Tulip Festival has been organized in Istanbul since 2006. Although the first association of the tulip is with the Netherlands, it is one of the symbols of Istanbul and has deep roots in our southern neighbor. The history of the tulip dates back to the 11th-12th centuries and begins in Persia. The root of the word comes from the Persian دلبند delband (“Turban”), i.e. turban. The Latin name “tulipa” comes from the Turkish word “tülbend” – a fine cloth with which the sultan’s turban, resembling the flower, was wrapped.
400 years ago, the Ottomans took the tulip from the Persians and cultivated it. The tulip became a real passion and hysteria of the nobles. The Topkapi Palace, where the sultans lived, had a vast garden for experiments and cultivation of flowers. Suleiman the Magnificent had his own experimental garden, to which only he had access. During his time, tulip bulbs were brought to the Netherlands, after which they began to spread throughout the world. This happened thanks to the efforts of Ogir Ghiselin de Busbeck, ambassador of the Austrian Emperor Ferdinand to the Ottoman Empire, who showed an increased interest in this flower. The tulip was grown by high-ranking individuals and thus became a symbol of wealth and nobility. Various celebrations were also organized in honor of the tulip. The French King Louis XVIII organized tulip festivals in Versailles, at which the most famous flower lovers and gardeners presented their achievements.
The tulip craze in the Netherlands reached its peak when the price of 1 bulb of an “unusual” tulip reached a very high sum, and was even exchanged for a two-horse cart, land, and even a house. It reached incredible speculation, underhanded stock market games, and the Dutch government had to take serious state-wide measures. In April 1637, a law was passed for fixed prices for bulbs, and any other terms of transactions for tulip bulbs were recognized as illegal, and speculation was punished with solid penalties.
During the reign of Ahmed III, tulips took first place among the flowers grown in the capital of Turkey. This period of time is called the "Tulip Age". The tulip motif has been used in Ottoman culture for hundreds of years and continues to this day. Elements on the tiles in mosques and palaces around the city, in ceramic and textile designs, street furniture and graffiti.
The typical Ottoman tulip is red with thin, sword-like petals that point upwards.
Millions of bulbs are planted in Istanbul every year to bring out their full abundance and beauty in spring. The best time to enjoy the incredible charm of the tulip gardens is from mid-April to early May. Although different varieties of tulips are planted that bloom earlier or later, this is the time when we can see them in their full glory. To see this splendor, we returned again after 10 days. Our first trip was 06-10.04., but then the tulips had not bloomed due to the late spring this year.
In spring, every park in Istanbul is a sea of tulips. The largest and most impressive is Emirgan Park (Emirgan Korusu). Breathtaking views of the Bosphorus, millions of tulips in beautiful compositions, lakes, fountains, waterfalls, colorful pavilions and other attractions. With an area of 452,000 m2, this oasis of beauty captivates from the very entrance. The open stage in the park is a place for concerts, demonstrations of traditional Turkish arts, calligraphy, glassmaking, photography exhibitions. It is a good idea to get to the park by ferry. The boat runs on a schedule, is charged with a public transport card and stops at certain stops. We got on from the Eminӧnü 2 Iskelesi (Eminӧnü Square) stop. A walk along the Bosphorus combined with a walk in the park.
Gülhane Park (Gülhane) – is part of the royal gardens of the Topkapi Palace. The name of the park, translated from Turkish “gülhane” means “rose garden”. In addition to the palette of tulips, numerous rose bushes bloom here in the spring-summer season. The park is located in the heart of the historical part of Istanbul, the Sultanahmet district.
Sultanahmet Square – during the festival, the square in front of the Sultanahmet Mosque turns into a carpet of tulips.
Other parks we didn't get to:
Göztepe Park – also the center of the festival, but in the Asian part of Istanbul.
Beykoz (Beykoz Korusu) – in the Asian part of the city.
Yildiz Park – near the Yildiz Palace.
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