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As you walk through the historic streets of Rome—one of the centers of the Renaissance—you come across the 500-year-old palace of humanist Lancellotti. Upon entering the building through its heavy iron doors, you encounter various sculptures as well as wall paintings by prominent 16th-century Italian artists such as Agostino Tassi, Guercino, and Lanfranco.
Inside this historic building, the Yunus Emre Institute in Rome is currently hosting a calligraphy exhibition reflecting Sufism and the teachings of Mevlana, alongside works by Western artists.
Organized in collaboration with Konya Metropolitan Municipality, the exhibition titled Journey to the Secret: The Wisdom of Letters brings together 22 award-winning works by calligraphers Abdurrahim Kahya and Seyit Ahmet Depeler.
The artworks combine the elegance of calligraphy with the depth of Islamic mysticism. The contrasting elements of the venue offer Italian visitors a gateway to new perspectives.
The exhibition opened last Tuesday, accompanied by a symposium titled Mysticism: A Bridge Between East and West.
During the symposium, Professor Nurullah Koltas and Assoc. Professor Ercan Alkan shared insights on the Sufi tradition, while Professor Lucio Saviani discussed traces of mysticism in Europe.
Responding to our questions about the event, President of the Yunus Emre Institute Prof. Dr. Abdurrahman Aliy stated, “The cultural accumulation of the East was gathered in Anatolia and emerged as calligraphy. Therefore, we wanted to bring the depth of Anatolia to one of the most important centers of civilization in Europe—Rome.”
Explaining the similarity between calligraphy and Sufism, Aliy said, “Sufism seeks the existence of a truth beyond what is visible. This is something beyond what we see. Calligraphy offers the most beautiful reflection of this. The letters we see, when combined, reflect the truth.”
Highlighting the growing importance of Mevlana’s messages in today’s world filled with conflict, Aliy added, “Mevlana has a very important message for people today: We can solve all our problems through dialogue. Speaking and listening are at the core of his understanding. Unfortunately, people today do not listen to each other. We must listen to Mevlana’s teachings.”
Konya Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ugur Ibrahim Altay said, “In a time when wars are widespread and humanity is questioning itself—especially due to what is happening in Gaza—it is our greatest duty to convey the messages of peace spoken by Hazrat Pir eight centuries ago to the entire world. We also witnessed a historic moment at the Colosseum. It was a great promotional opportunity for our country.”
Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Gokhan Yazgi answered our questions at the Colosseum.
At this year’s Musica in Venere—one of Rome’s most significant summer events—the Mevlevi order took center stage, and for the first time ever, a Quran recitation took place inside the 2,000-year-old Colosseum. Once the site of bloody gladiator battles in the Roman Empire, the ancient stones of the Colosseum this time echoed with calls inspired by Mevlana’s message of beauty. The event, held with the cooperation of the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Italian Ministry of Culture, took place with the Konya Metropolitan Municipality’s ensemble inside the temple of Venus. Thus, Mevlana’s and Sufism’s light illuminated Rome!
Speaking to Murat Oztekin from Türkiye Daily about the event, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Gokhan Yazgi emphasized that Hazrat Mevlana, within the teachings of Islam, spread love and tolerance, stating, “Such a figure and the true teachings of Islam must be better introduced to the world. Today, the world needs Mevlana and his teachings more than ever. Throughout our time in Italy, many people expressed how much they love Mevlana. As the sociocultural level rises, more people are seen to have read the Masnavi. Where pain once reigned in the Colosseum, now we speak of love.”
Yazgi also recalled that the Göbeklitepe exhibition had previously been hosted at the Colosseum and was visited by 6 million people. He shared the good news that preparations have begun for new exhibitions at the historic site in Rome.
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