Tulips - the most spring flowers came to the Ottoman Empire from Persia and Central Asia, but it was here that they gained a special status. Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent adored these flowers, and at his court the tulip became a symbol of wealth and power. By the 16th century, they were already being bred in the Topkapi gardens, and the bulbs were worth their weight in gold. It was from here that they were taken to Europe, including Holland.
Today, the tulip is not just a symbol of Turkey, but part of its soul. It is in the ornaments of mosques, in traditional patterns, and even in the shape of those curved tea glasses - the symbol of Istanbul😁