Welcome Spring in Istanbul: The Tulip Festival Has Begun

Tulips are one of the most famous members of the lily family. During the widespread Turkish migration centuries ago, this flower was also brought to Anatolia. Tulips embody the meanings of nobility, grace and pure love. The strong connection between tulips and Istanbul still remains today and it is celebrated with the Tulip Festival, which attracts thousands of tourists and locals annually.

Origin

Tulips are one of the traditional symbols of Istanbul. Turkish people migrating from Central Asia brought breeds of precious wild tulips to Anatolia as early as the 12th century. Ottoman society were taken away by the exquisite blossoms in the 16th century, and Istanbul, which at that point was known as Constantinople, rose to fame for them in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. New kinds of tulips were added to the palace gardens, which dazzled European visitors. Famous tulips of Istanbul even named a whole era, known as The Tulip Era, or Lale Devri in Turkish. It was mainly a tranquil period that the Ottoman Empire started to focus more on Europe.

The Tulip Festival

To appreciate and celebrate the ancient origins of tulips in Istanbul, millions of tulips were planted in different open ground locations in Istanbul every April since 2006.  Tulips are widely visible throughout the Old Town, notably in and around Sultanahmet, which is a popular tourist destination. It is also worthwhile to take a trip to Emirgân Park, which sets a beautiful and colourful scenery with hundreds of tulips.

The festival's formal dates are April 1 through April 30, however given the weather, the blooms could begin to appear in late March and continue to be gorgeous into May. The climate determines precisely when the flowers are at their best. But tulips are not the only attraction of the Istanbul Tulip Festival. Pansies, bluebottles, and other flowers are placed for contrast and variation in shape and colour.

The visuals are magnificent and the outcome is a stunning spring flower carnival with vivid pops of colour everywhere you turn. Four Seasons Sultanahmet planted tulips and other complimentary flowers in the garden to showcase its support for the Istanbul Tulip Festival and celebrate spring in the most visually satisfying way.