Istanbul Turkey 's festival capital

Contemporary art and culture in Istanbul

You are not dreaming; there really is an iron spider scuttling across the floor of a Byzantine church. But don't worry; this is the art of Louise Bourgeois at the Istanbul Biennial which is now establishing a solid international reputation as a celebration of art and the city itself. Works from international big guns such as Pistoletto, Sol Le Witt and Richard Long are exhibited alongside the best homegrown Turkish talent.

This in itself is enough, but there is a twist; and that's where the works are displayed. The exhibitions are held in the most beautiful and atmospheric of Istanbul 's landmarks, including; the dripping and cavernous underground Yerebatan cistern, the Hagia Eireni and the Leander tower - a historic lighthouse built off the Asian bank of the Bosphorous.

The Biennial now attracts 70,000 visitors viewing the work of more than 100 artists from over 50 countries. Further cultural enrichment comes in the form of the Istanbul International Film Festival which takes place every April and shows more than 150 films from around the world, securing it a place among the world's top 40 film festivals.

And last, but by no means least is the variety of music festivals. Spanning the entire musical gamut and with a separate Jazz festival, this attracts some real international heavyweights. Previous performers have included: Philip Glass, The Kronos Quartet, Michael Nyman and Dame Kiri Te Kanawa. And again the concerts are to be held in spectacular locations. The events are staggered throughout the year, so it's likely that one will be running during your stay.

For up-to-the-minute listings and reviews visit T he Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts website proves the definitive resource.

www.iksv.org

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