At a glance
Spanning sixteen centuries, these imperial treasures shift the focus from a city caught between East and West to one that continuously redefined its own global identity.
Why go
This ambitious survey brings together over 200 objects to bridge the gap between two powerful empires, offering a rare chance to see Byzantine and Ottoman masterworks side by side.
You'll see
Byzantine mosaics · Ottoman ceramics · Intricate silks · Rare manuscripts · Architectural fragments
Pace of visit
The high concentration of intricate decorative arts and historical documents requires steady concentration throughout the galleries.
Don't miss
The Veroli Casket, a tenth-century Byzantine masterpiece of carved ivory depicting scenes from classical mythology.
Artlovers Tip
Plan for a full morning or afternoon; the transition between the Byzantine and Ottoman sections is the perfect moment to step back and reflect on the scale of the transition.
Inside the exhibition
Constantinople to Istanbul: One City, Two Empires at V&A South Kensington in London traces the visual history of a metropolis that served as the seat of two world powers. The exhibition moves beyond the cliché of a bridge between continents, focusing instead on how the city's artistic language evolved through sixteen hundred years of political and religious change.
The galleries display more than 200 objects ranging from delicate Byzantine jewellery and religious mosaics to bold Ottoman silks and ceramics. Notable loans include rare manuscripts and large-scale architectural fragments that illustrate the physical transformation of the city's skyline and domestic life across both the Byzantine and Ottoman eras.
By presenting these two periods as a continuous narrative rather than separate histories, the V&A provides a fresh perspective on the cultural continuity of the Bosphorus. Seeing the precise craftsmanship of a tenth-century ivory casket alongside seventeenth-century processional scrolls highlights the enduring status of the city as a premier center for global decorative arts.
Worth travelling for?
A significant international exhibition that rewards those interested in the intersection of faith, power, and high craftsmanship across two influential Mediterranean empires.
Experience as an Artlover
The exhibition runs from November 2026 until May 2027 at the museum's South Kensington site.
Constantinople to Istanbul: One City, Two Empires
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