5 Must-Visit Museums in Europe Containing Islamic Art  

Translator: Fatıma Nur Dinçer

You can find museums in many areas from history to contemporary art in every corner of Europe. The list is endless! Some of these museums display Islamic collections, while others are solely devoted to Islamic art. We have composed a brief list of museums around Europe that include Islamic art. We hope you enjoy it!

British Museum – London

The British Museum is home to important Islamic collections. This year, Abdulkhary Foundation Islamic Collection Gallery will be opening on October the 18th. This collection allows us to explore the Islamic world from the 7th century to the present, with works collected from wide geography from Southeast Asia to West Africa.

Museum of Islamic Arts – Berlin

The Museum of Islamic Arts in Berlin is the oldest and second most important museum of Islamic arts in the world. It is in the Pergamon Museum on Museum Island. The museum exhibits works of art not only from Muslim communities but also from Christian and Jewish communities living among Muslims. 

Louvre Museum – Paris

The Louvre Museum’s Islamic Arts Section displays artistic pieces from the 7th up until the 19th centuries. In this section of the museum, you can find architectural tools, metal structures, ceramics, textiles, carpets, manuscripts, and many other works. 

Benaki Museum – Athens  

Athens Benaki Museum is home to an important Islamic art collection, which includes works from India, Iran, the Middle East, Spain, North Africa, and Mesopotamia. The museum is in the same area as the Doric Temple of Hephaestus and the Museum of the Ancient Kerameikos Necropolis. 

The David Collection – Copenhagen  

The Islamic Arts Collection in this museum is the largest, not only in the museum but also in the Scandinavia region. The West considers this collection as one of the ten most important collections. The artwork here is arranged according to dynasties, geography, materials, and cultural-historical themes. 

This article was originally written in Turkish. Click to read it! Avrupa’da Ziyaret Etmeniz Gereken 5 Şaşırtıcı İslam Sanatı Müzesi