Whirling Dervishes Ceremony at Galata Mevlevi House

The Galata Mevlevi House is a museum and dervish lodge in Istanbul, Turkey. It is located in the Galata district of Istanbul, on the Golden Horn. The museum is open every day except Mondays. The museum was originally a Greek Orthodox church, which was consecrated in the name of Saint George. In 1453, the Ottomans captured Constantinople and the church was converted into a mosque. The mosque was destroyed in the 17th century, and the current building was constructed in the 18th century. The building was used as a dervish lodge by the Mevlevi order of whirling dervishes. The lodge was closed in 1925, and the building was used as a warehouse for a time. In 1957, the lodge was reopened as a museum. The museum contains a large collection of objects associated with the Mevlevi order, including clothing, instruments, and manuscripts. There is also a library containing over 2,000 books on Sufism.