Evliya Çelebi was born March 25,1611 in Unqapanı (now called Istanbul)

“I lay down on the pillow of lamentation, in the corner of my hovel, in my birthplace Istanbul, to a sleep of wish fulfillment.”  Evliya Çelebi wrote on Aug. 10, 1630

 

400th Birth Anniversary of Evliya Celebi 
 Issued by Türkiye on March 25, 2011
 

Çelebi was one of history’s great travel writers. He travelled throughout the Ottoman Empire and countries along its border, documenting his experiences in  Seyahatname  (Books of Travels).  His Book of Travels expanded to 10 volumes by the end of his life. 

He mentions many places from Egypt to Vienna in the book. He wrote everything about the places that he visited, including history of cities, castles, neighborhoods, houses, mosques, sanctuaries, schools, dervish lodges, fountains, caravanserais, inns, epitaphs of works, shops, bazaars, poets, insane ones, clothes, local languages, seasons, water, exemplary structures, bathhouses, churches, foods, drinks, soup-kitchens, vineyards, gardens, mountains, prairies, plains and rivers.  Ottoman traveler Evliya Çelebi: Wanderer of the world | Daily Sabah