Cyprus to host Ottoman-era historical photography exhibition

The “Ottoman Traces in Cyprus” photography exhibition is set to showcase a historical archive documenting the island's social and cultural history. Hosted by Bahçeşehir Cyprus University in partnership with the Osmanlar Foundation, İBTAV, and the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the event will be introduced at the Alayköy Campus on October 15, 2026.

The collection features approximately 92 historical photographs sourced from the glass negative archive of Hacı Ali Rıfat Efendi, the last Ottoman Kadı of Cyprus, and his son, Ahmet Burhaneddin Kadızâde. Digitized by Bahçeşehir Cyprus University, these images capture the people, streets, architecture, and daily life of the era.

Following the Cyprus launch, the exhibition will move to the Atatürk Cultural Center (AKM) Gallery in Istanbul, where it will be open to the public from November 15 to November 24, 2026. The initiative aims to preserve historical documents through digitization and share the island's cultural identity with a wider audience.