Rezan Has Müzesi

Rezan Has Museum (Rezan Has Müzesi) is an active cultural and educational institution established in May 2007, operating within the central Cibali campus of Kadir Has University along the historic waterfront of the Golden Horn in Istanbul. Grounded in a core mission of connecting the past to the future, the museum made its public debut during the 11th International Conference on Oriental Carpets with its inaugural exhibition, "Zamansız Sadelik" (Timeless Simplicity). Named after Rezan Has and Kadir Has, the museum preserves their foundational contribution through the dedicated Kadir & Rezan Has Memorial Room while showcasing thousands of years of Anatolian civilization and local Istanbul history to visitors from around the world.

The museum occupies a shoreline historically celebrated across major eras: known as Khrysokeras (the Golden Horn) in Antiquity, Keras in Byzantine times, and Haliç-i Konstantiniyye under Ottoman administration. Within this multi-layered setting, the institution safeguards an archaeological collection dating back nearly 9,000 years, alongside an extensive archive of artifacts from the historical Cibali Tobacco Factory. Combining tangible archaeological excavations, preserved industrial heritage, and ongoing cultural programs, Rezan Has Museum provides a distinct cultural destination in Istanbul for travelers, researchers, and culture enthusiasts seeking authentic historical depth.

Programme and What's On

The permanent and temporary exhibition programme at Rezan Has Museum reflects a broad curatorial spectrum spanning millennia of craftsmanship, archaeology, and social history. Among its signature exhibitions is the Urartu Belts Exhibition (Urartu Kemerleri Sergisi), drawn from a distinguished collection of approximately 1,100 Urartu-era jewelry pieces and artifacts. Visitors can explore thematic displays such as "Geçmişin Işığında: Aydınlatmanın Kronolojisi" (In the Light of the Past: Chronology of Lighting), tracing lighting technology across epochs, and "Kayıp Dillerin Fısıldadıkları" (Whispers of Lost Languages), which examines ancient scripts and linguistics. Another core installation is "Cibali Tütün Fabrikası: Emeğin Mekanı" (Cibali Tobacco Factory: Space of Labor), presenting selections from an archival collection of nearly 1,900 documents, tools, and personal objects belonging to the historic factory that once operated on this exact ground.

Beyond gallery displays, the museum maintains a vibrant calendar of educational and intellectual events. Its schedule features guided tours, scholarly panels, seminars, academic symposiums, expert talks, and specialized conferences. Families and younger visitors can take part in structured children's education programmes and interactive creative workshops. For remote audiences or pre-visit planning, the museum offers virtual tours, while maintaining on-site conservation and restoration activities to preserve fragile historical materials. Visitors can also explore a range of published literature, including comprehensive exhibition catalogues and illustrated children's books.

Admission is organized through structured ticket tiers: standard full admission (Tam Bilet) is 300 TL, while discounted admission (İndirimli Bilet) is available for 150 TL. Every Thursday, the museum provides completely free entry to all students. Free admission is likewise granted to MMKD cardholders and official visitor delegations authorized by the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Additionally, Müzekart+ holders are entitled to one free admission per calendar year and receive a 10 percent discount on designated museum publications and catalogues.

Atmosphere and Who It Suits

The atmosphere inside Rezan Has Museum is defined by the immediate physical presence of layered architectural history beneath modern academic life. Visitors descend from the university grounds into subterranean stone vaults where ancient and post-classical structures stand preserved in situ. The defining architectural centerpiece is the Seferikos Cistern (Seferikos Sarnıcı), a Byzantine water cistern dating to the late 11th century. Constructed with 48 distinct arches, 15 load-bearing piers, and 20 historic columns, the cistern presents an impressive subterranean environment. Over subsequent centuries, the space evolved functionally, serving first as a tobacco warehouse for the Cibali Cigarette and Tobacco Factory and later as a crucial food supply store during the years of World War II.

Directly adjoining the Byzantine cistern are structural remains from a 17th-century Ottoman building, creating a rare spatial dialogue where distinct imperial eras intersect under a single roof. The ambiance throughout the galleries is quiet, scholarly, and contemplative, illuminated to highlight the texture of ancient stone masonry and delicate metallurgical artifacts.

This environment makes the museum particularly suited to several visitor groups:

• Students and Young Academics: Benefiting from free entry on Thursdays, students find a quiet, resource-rich space ideal for studying architectural evolution, classical history, and museology.
• Families with Children: The museum offers tailored educational workshops, interactive activities, and educational children's books that make ancient history accessible to young minds.
• Archaeologists and Researchers: Scholars of Near Eastern history can closely study the nearly 9,000-year archaeological sequence alongside specialized Urartu metalwork and jewelry collections.
• Art and Heritage Travelers: Independent visitors looking for unhurried cultural experiences appreciate the juxtaposition of industrial factory archives and Byzantine engineering away from major tourist crowds.

Location and Practical Details

Rezan Has Museum is located within the central campus of Kadir Has University in the Cibali neighborhood of Istanbul's Fatih district. Situated on the southern shoreline of the Golden Horn, the museum lies along the scenic coastal route connecting Unkapanı to the historic neighborhoods of Fener and Balat. It is recorded in public cultural documentation that the restoration of the Kadir Has University Cibali Campus—housed in the former Cibali Tobacco Factory—was honored with the Europa Nostra Award in 2003.

Access to the museum via Istanbul's public transportation network is straightforward:

• Tram: Take the T5 Eminönü-Alibeyköy Tramway line directly to the Cibali tram stop, situated right outside the university campus gates.
• Metro: Arrive via the M2 Yenikapı-Hacıosman Metro line, alight at the Haliç station on the Golden Horn metro bridge, and take a brief walk along the coastal promenade.
• Bus: Numerous İETT city bus lines stop at the Unkapanı - Kadir Has Üniversitesi bus stop immediately adjacent to the entrance.

Practical visiting details and branch contact information:

• Address: Kadir Has Üniversitesi, Cibali - İstanbul, 34083 / Türkiye
• Phone: (0212) 533 65 32
• Email: [email protected]
• Visiting Hours: Open daily from 09:00 to 18:00 (every day of the week).
• Closures: The museum is closed on January 1st and on the first day of religious holidays.

Pre-booking is not strictly mandatory, but visitors intending to join guided tours or children's workshops can contact the museum via email or phone for current session schedules.

The Mio Angle: Meeting and Events

From the perspective of the Mio community, Rezan Has Museum serves as a unique cultural rendezvous point that departs from predictable café or mall gatherings. It is an ideal setting for curious friends, cultural pairs, and photography-minded explorers who want to share an intellectually engaging experience before heading out to the surrounding cafes of Cibali and Balat. Because the museum is integrated into a vibrant university campus, the surrounding public spaces maintain an energetic, student-oriented vitality, while the subterranean galleries offer a quiet, distraction-free environment for thoughtful conversation and discovery.

In terms of affordability, the museum ranks among the most budget-friendly cultural attractions in central Istanbul. With full tickets priced at 300 TL and discounted tickets at 150 TL, visitors receive exceptional value given the breadth of archaeological and architectural collections on display. For students, the free admission policy on Thursdays makes it an unbeatable weekly cultural outing. Furthermore, regular museum-goers with Müzekart+ can utilize their annual free entry entitlement while taking advantage of a 10 percent discount on published research catalogues and children's books.

For visual creators and social sharing, the venue offers distinctive aesthetic angles. The dramatic lighting across the 48 brick arches and 20 stone columns of the 11th-century Seferikos Cistern provides an atmospheric subterranean backdrop. Other standout visual focal points include the intricate craftsmanship of the Urartu bronze belts, the industrial machinery and vintage packaging from the historic Cibali Tobacco Factory, and the commemorative exhibits inside the Kadir & Rezan Has Memorial Room.