Rediscovering Venice’s Ottoman Roots: An Evening at the Fontego dei Turchi

A journey through time, a bridge between two worlds. Imagine stepping into the courtyard of the Natural History Museum of Venice Giancarlo Ligabue and being transported back to the time of the Ottomans. A bazaar throbbing with life, a fascinating crossroads of trade, meetings, and entertainment.

The Fontego dei Turchi, once a refuge for Muslim merchants, awakens memories of a distant and vibrant past. You will hear the echo of sellers of leather, wool, and beeswax, as their curious eyes land on fabrics and products of Venetian industry.

The evening is a sensory and emotional journey to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Tastings of traditional cuisine, stands with herbal and artisanal products, artistic performances: a tribute to the wide range of aromatic and therapeutic herbs that still today constitute a fundamental element of Bosnian culture.

This experience, made possible by the involvement of various communities, associations, and institutions, shows how the museum can transform into a place of meeting, exchange, and cultural reprocessing.

Prepare to live a Bosniak-Ottoman evening. An experience that goes beyond history, that involves you in the present, and projects you towards a future of cultural connections.

“A Journey Through Time: Fontego delle Erbe and the Ottoman Merchants”

On Friday, June 30, 2023, from 6.30 pm to 10.30 pm, immerse yourself in a Bosniak-Ottoman evening, rich in trade, encounter, and entertainment.

The bazaar will host a market with herbal and artisanal products of Bosnian tradition and tastings of traditional cuisine.
You will be fascinated by artistic performances, from the art of ebrû marbled paper with Fazilet Bulgan to Ottoman hat calligraphy with Abdulhak Hadžimejlić, all accompanied by background music of ud with Safa Korkmaz.

Don’t miss the chance to participate in the meeting “Plants, love, and magic in Ottoman Bosnia” with Amila Buturović from York University, Toronto, Canada.

Remember, to gain access, you will need to pick up a free pass at the museum ticket office. Availability is limited to 150 seats, so I recommend you arrive early to ensure you secure a spot.