Istanbul appeared to us as a city built on layers. Europe and Asia, water and stone, silence and movement coexist in the same landscape. Traversing it meant continuously moving from one dimension to another: from the monumentality of mosques to the familiarity of a shared glass of boza with a friend.
We didn't set out with a precise list of objects to find. As often happens in our travels, we preferred to observe, listen, and let the places themselves show us what was worth remembering and taking with us.
The photographs in the article were taken by us during our trip to Istanbul.
Our Itinerary
01 Galata and the vertical city · 02 The Blue Mosque · 03 Boza with Kadir · 04 The Basilica Cistern · 05 The Grand Bazaar
First Glimpse
Galata and the vertical city
The journey began around Galata. The streets rise, change perspective, and allow glimpses of the sky to appear between buildings, domes, and minarets. The Galata Tower dominates this complex landscape, becoming a landmark visible from different parts of the city.
More than the individual monument, we were struck by the relationship between the architectures. Constructions from different eras coexist without nullifying each other, creating a dense and profoundly recognizable urban identity.
Architecture and Reflection
The Blue Mosque
Entering the Blue Mosque suddenly changed the rhythm of the day. After the movement of the streets, we found ourselves in a space constructed through light, proportion, and decoration.
The surfaces, repeated patterns, and succession of domes guide the gaze upwards. We observed this place with respect, trying to understand not only its beauty but also the spiritual significance it holds for those who experience it daily.
In Istanbul, decoration does not appear applied to architecture: it becomes part of the light, rhythm, and perception of space.
A Personal Encounter
Boza shared with Kadir
Among the most authentic memories of the trip is the encounter with Kadir, whom we met through his project dedicated to Turkish cuisine. Having studied in Italy, he spoke perfect Italian and accompanied us through a less obvious, more everyday Istanbul.
With him, we reached Vefa Bozacısı to taste boza, a traditional Turkish drink. More than the taste, we remember the situation: the historic venue, the people, the conversations, and the feeling of participating for a moment in a ritual belonging to the city.
It was one of those moments when travel stops being simple observation and becomes connection.
Under the City
The Basilica Cistern
Descending into the Basilica Cistern means entering an unexpected, subterranean Istanbul. Columns multiply in the darkness, while reflections on the water continuously change the depth of the space.
It is an architecture that is perceived even before it is understood. Light, humidity, sound, and repetition create a suspended atmosphere, very different from the brightness and movement of the streets outside.
This contrast reminded us how radically matter and light can change the way we experience an environment.
Material, Color, Discovery
Getting lost in the Grand Bazaar
The Grand Bazaar is not visited in a straight line. It is a system of passages, openings, and deviations where textiles, metals, spices, ceramics, and objects overlap to create a continuous visual landscape.
We let curiosity guide us, observing especially the less conspicuous shops. We were looking for objects that were not merely decorative, but that retained a handmade mark and a recognizable story.
In one of these spaces, we found some papier-mâché vases that we had never seen before. Light, colorful, and entirely handmade, they had irregular shapes and a surprisingly sculptural presence.
The Object of the Journey
From discovery to the Vicode collection
Bringing these objects to Italy meant not only adding new products to the store. It meant preserving a part of the experience: the place where they were discovered, the people met, and the wonder of the first glance.
The same attraction to Turkish craftsmanship continues in the Vicode research. The Anadolu Vase, with its sculptural form and worked handles, represents a meeting point between Anatolian tradition and contemporary language.
To discover other material forms and objects capable of characterizing space, visit the Handcrafted Design Vases collection.
What we brought home
Not just objects, but a new appreciation for decoration, symbolism, and the relationship between craftsmanship and daily life.
The trip to Istanbul was an encounter with a city capable of holding many identities without reducing them to a single image. We returned with photographs, notes, new references, and the awareness that the most interesting objects are often those that continue to tell the story of the place from which they came.
Lorenzo & Elena — Vicode
