Whirling Dervishes Show and Exhibition

Near the great Hagia Sophia Basilica and the magnificent Topkapi Palace, the Hodjapasha building is a delightful piece of the city’s striking cultural mosaic.

Transformed from a large 15th-century hammam (Turkish bath), now it welcomes its visitors under its high dome ceilings to showcase some of the best of Turkish traditions.

You will watch the mystical ritual of the Mevlevi Ceremony, whose whirling dance has been declared a UNESCO Heritage of Humanity. The Sema Ceremony is a journey through man’s spiritual ascent to “perfection” through mind and love – a truly unmissable and astonishing experience of music and acts.

The exhibition features information displays about dervishes and their ceremony, objects belonging to the world of dervishes such as clothing, musical instruments, and personal tools, books, etc. Also, interactive Rumi poems and Sufi music samples, Hyperrealist style dervish statues, and video shows are part of this unique exhibition.

The program includes:

Introduction Video: 5 min

Sufi Music Concert: 10 min

Whirling Dervishes Ceremony (SEMA): 45 min