Atıf Efendi Library

The construction date of Atıf Efendi Library that is located on Istanbul Vefa Street dates back to 1742. Atıf Efendi Library, one of the oldest buildings in Istanbul, was founded by Mustafa Atıf Efendi, Treasurer of Sultan Mahmut I.

Atıf Efendi Library, which contains 3 thousand 228 manuscripts and prints and around 30 thousand works, takes you on a journey through time. In addition to Atıf Efendi Library, which is the second Ottoman library with an independent building, the first library in this category is Köprülü Library built by Köprülü Fazıl Ahmet Pasha in 1678.

Atıf Efendi Library, which is one of the places to visit in Istanbul Vefa, accommodates 3 thousand manuscripts and Mehmet Zeki Pakalın's private collection is also of great interest. In addition to the manuscripts that have been transferred to the digital environment, Atıf Efendi Library, which has both a courtyard and a garden, looks very different from a typical library. Atıf Efendi Library building with the inscription "Darül kütübi Atıf 1289" on the main entrance door is completely made of cut stone and brick.

The miniature works, seal albums, ornamentations, valuable volumes, copies dating back to ancient times and manuscripts in Atıf Efendi Library having a historical Byzantine cistern at the bottom and a square reading room are definitely worth seeing. The library, which attracts incredible attention with 8 thousand 301 works in old letters, has undergone major restorations over time and serves as a part of Süleymaniye Manuscript Library today.