Session

Architecture and Spatial Planning

Description

This paper focuses on the architectural and urban environment of Thrace region during the Ottoman Empire and its perceptions witnessed by Western travelers from 15th to early 20th century. Due to their expansion in the Balkans’ region, a remarkable effort was done by the Ottoman Turks to replace the Byzantine hegemony in those lands. Thrace region, herewith introduced as a case study, present an impressive number of artifacts which were planned or reorganized by the new rulers to enhance the conquered and ‘Ottomanized’ territories. Many of those artefacts disappeared in time and thanks to the travelers who left several written descriptions or sketchbooks while crossing those lands, today we can better understand the achievement reached by the Ottomans, in terms of artistic and architectural assess. Within this framework, the paper aims to highlight some of those masterpieces in Thrace as an expression of such remarkable Ottoman heritage and how the contribution of travel literature today can open new perspectives to recognize such urban and architectural environment.

Session Chair

Kujtim Elezi

Session Co-Chair

Bekim Ceko

Proceedings Editor

Edmond Hajrizi

ISBN

978-9951-437-96-7

Location

Lipjan, Kosovo

Start Date

31-10-2020 10:45 AM

End Date

31-10-2020 12:15 PM

DOI

10.33107/ubt-ic.2020.16

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Oct 31st, 10:45 AM Oct 31st, 12:15 PM

Travelers in the Ottoman Balkans. Descriptions and comments on the architectural and urban environment in the Thrace region between 15 th and Early 20 th century

Lipjan, Kosovo

This paper focuses on the architectural and urban environment of Thrace region during the Ottoman Empire and its perceptions witnessed by Western travelers from 15th to early 20th century. Due to their expansion in the Balkans’ region, a remarkable effort was done by the Ottoman Turks to replace the Byzantine hegemony in those lands. Thrace region, herewith introduced as a case study, present an impressive number of artifacts which were planned or reorganized by the new rulers to enhance the conquered and ‘Ottomanized’ territories. Many of those artefacts disappeared in time and thanks to the travelers who left several written descriptions or sketchbooks while crossing those lands, today we can better understand the achievement reached by the Ottomans, in terms of artistic and architectural assess. Within this framework, the paper aims to highlight some of those masterpieces in Thrace as an expression of such remarkable Ottoman heritage and how the contribution of travel literature today can open new perspectives to recognize such urban and architectural environment.