Cultural Exchange of the 17th Century: Pietro Della Valle in Constantinople

Abstract

Travelling is an indispensable source of information about foreign countries. Both today and in the 17th century, journeys abroad immerse travelers in local cultural and linguistic environments, providing numerous opportunities to gain new knowledge, especially when it comes to Constantinople, a city with a rich history. In the early 17th century, Pietro Della Valle (1586–1652), an Italian nobleman, musician, diplomat, and traveler, visited Constantinople during his journey through the Ottoman Empire, Persia, and India (1614–1626). He documented his experiences and observations in letters to his Neapolitan friend, Mario Scipano, a professor of medicine. What drew the young Italian’s attention in Constantinople? Whom could one meet there? How did ambassadors spend their leisure time? What languages could travelers learn, why were Turkish Jews teaching them, and why did Europeans eagerly acquire Eastern manuscripts?

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