Tulip time starts in Istanbul, decorating everywhere

ISTANBUL

Tulips will decorate the city’s gardens, parks and squares until the end of April. DHA photo

Istanbul will be able to smell the flowers once again as the ninth International Istanbul Tulip Festival gets underway around the city.

Costing a total of 5 million Turkish Liras, 20 million tulips of 211 different species have been planted in gardens, parks and squares all around the city from Tuzla to Silivri.  During the festival, which is being organized by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, the Emirgan Woods, Taksim Square, Hıdiv Woods, the Göztepe Rose Garden, the Büyük Çamlıca Woods, Sultanahmet Square and Gülhane Park will host various events.

As part of the events, the Istanbul Tulip Cup, an international women’s tennis tournament, will be held at the Kadıköy Göztepe Park from April 21 to 27. An exhibition featuring contemporary interpretations of the Turkish art of illumination will also be open at the Taksim Cumhuriyet Art Gallery between April 7 and 13.

As well as the sales of many tulip-themed products, there will be painting and photography exhibitions and music concerts. At the same time, marbling artists will also perform their trade live for art lovers.

There will also be a competition for most beautiful tulip photo during the festival. A tulip sculpture exhibition is also on the list of activities for the festival.

The tulips to be planted in the city were grown by villagers in the Central Anatolian province of Konya’s Çumra district, as well as Silivri, Çatalca, Şile, Pamukova and Geyve.  The commercial cultivation of the tulip began in the Ottoman Empire. Tulips are one of the traditional symbols of Istanbul.

The festival will continue until April 30.