The Istanbul Archaeology Museum

The Istanbul Archaeology Museums, Turkey’s first museum, were founded in 1891 under the leadership of Osman Hamdi Bey and today house one of the world’s richest archaeological collections, with over 1 million artifacts. Located in the first courtyard of Topkapı Palace, this complex consists of three separate buildings—the Archaeology Museum, the Museum of Ancient Oriental Art, and the Tiled Pavilion—and displays world-renowned artifacts such as the Sarcophagus of Alexander.