It’s Friday, and time for a flashback to an old Travel with Intent post.
Tulip Festival in Istanbul
Originally posted April 30, 2015. All images Istanbul, April 2015, copyright Debbie Smyth
Gülhane Park, Istanbul, April 2015
April in Istanbul is tulip time; parks, squares and roadsides all revel in the bright colours of these cup-shaped flowers.
The word tulip, is believed to derive from the Ottoman Turkish tülbend (“muslin” or “gauze”), and may be ultimately derived from the Persian delband (“turban”). This etymology may be due to the perceived resemblance between the shape of a tulip flower and that of a turban. Equally, it may date back to the fashion of wearing tulips on turbans in the Ottoman Empire.
Tulips are called lale in Turkish. When written in Arabic letters, “lale” has the same letters as Allah, so no surprise that this flower has become a holy symbol.
The tulip figures frequently in Persian verse, where its red color symbolises the blood of martyrs and the fire of love. In Turkey, tulips are associated with the refinement and luxury that characterized the Ottoman Empire at the height of its power.
Istanbul’s month long Tulip Festival makes April the perfect month to visit Istanbul: you get the added beauty and colour of the tulips and you also beat the oppressive summer heat. The complex and magnificent displays in Gülhane Park have to be on your to do list.
This now public park used to be part of the gardens of the Topkapi Palace and, not-quite-perfect at this time of year, its name means rosehouse.
Even at the very end of the month, the displays were still impressive, though as I took one last walk through on the final morning of my trip, they were just getting ready to replant some of the beds.
I hope you enjoyed that flashback, and as an extra treat here are some more Istanbul tulips for you to enjoy:
Note: I discovered the Istanbul tulip festival on a photography workshop with Anthony Epes who will be running the trip again in 2022.
Copyright Debbie Smyth
Posted as part of Fandango’s Flashback Friday
Travel with Intent 
Fabulous. I never think of tulips as Turkish thing, though if course that’s exactly what they are.
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And I still don’t think that and I saw them. I blame that Tulips in Amsterdam song and Max Bygraves!
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it brings tears to my eyes, it glorious.
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A wonderful site. Istanbul is a great place to visit as it has such variety, a fascinating mix of European and Asian cultures
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i agree, it beautiful
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i posted a post called died hair, look at it to see me
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Fab colours!
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I’d forgotten how wonderful the tulips out there were
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Stunning!
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Stunning images! Thank you for sharing.
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Oh Debbie, that must have been so fun to visit those gardens. Such wonderful photos you were able to take. 😀 😀
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It was a wonderful trip – I had been out there. coupe of times for business, but this time I was a photography trip. Such fun!
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WOW! That’s absolutely magnificent!
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What a beautiful park ! Never expected it in Istanbul.
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I want to go there, now!
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See you there! 🙂
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Beautiful 🙂 🙂
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That is so beautiful
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It’s an amazing display – and Istanbul is not a place people think of when thinking tulips
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Right
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