Lisbon and Istanbul linked by Devrim Erbil painting

Turkish contemporary artist Devrim Erbil has captured the historical and topographical similarities between Lisbon and Istanbul in his large-scale painting, ‘Twin Souls’. The artwork is displayed at the Lisbon Museum in Palácio Pimenta.

Erbil’s work highlights how the two cities share common characteristics, such as being described by Romans as cities of seven hills and having major waterways—the Tagus River in Lisbon and the Bosphorus Strait in Istanbul—that define their landscapes. The painting uses the green and red colors of the respective national flags to divide the canvas vertically.

Beyond geography, the cities share historical parallels, including imperial pasts, the influence of both Islamic and Christian cultures, and the shared heritage of tile production. Both cities also faced significant destruction from deadly earthquakes in the 18th century.