Bezirhane Talks is a talk series that brings together influential figures in the culture, arts, and tourism ecosystem of Cappadocia with students and the local community. Emphasizing the importance of sharing knowledge and strengthening cultural dialogue, the program aims to be a platform that enriches the intellectual and artistic agenda of Cappadocia.
In the program, which has been held since February 2025, the Cappadocia Cultural Research Center has been involved as a stakeholder since December of the same year. Within the scope of the program, renowned writers, artists, academics, and industry professionals from various fields are hosted.
The aim of the series is to provide vision and awareness to those interested, especially students, and to address Cappadocia’s cultural heritage, contemporary art dynamics, and tourism potential from a multifaceted perspective. In each talk, guests share their experiences, the works they have produced, and their foresight about the sector, serving as a source of inspiration for the younger generation.
Bezirhane Talks hosted Prof. Dr. Pınar Fedakar, a faculty member at Ege University, who stands out with her work on folk culture and women’s studies. The event, held in the historical atmosphere of Gorgoli Bezirhane in Mustafapaşa on Friday evening, July 17, was followed with interest by the participants.
In the talk titled “That is My Home: On the Cultural Meaning of Space,” the concept of the “home” as a space where memory, belonging, and meaning accumulate beyond merely being a shelter, and the connections between space and culture were discussed. This gathering, where Prof. Dr. Pınar Fedakar shared her wealth of knowledge, concluded in a productive conversational environment with the participation of the guests.
We thank Ms. Fedakar for her valuable contributions and all our guests who attended.
Bezirhane Talks hosted Prof. Dr. Evrim Ölçer Özünel, known for her works on Turkish folklore and intangible cultural heritage. The event, held in the historical atmosphere of Gorgoli Bezirhane in Mustafapaşa on Friday evening, April 10, was followed with interest by the participants.
In the talk, the preservation of cultural memory, the importance of oral culture, and the transmission of traditions to future generations were discussed. This meaningful gathering, where Prof. Dr. Ölçer Özünel shared her wealth of knowledge, concluded in a productive conversational environment with the participation of the guests.
We thank Ms. Ölçer Özünel for her valuable contributions and all our guests who attended.
This time at Bezirhane Talks, we hosted thinker and writer Dücane Cündioğlu, who questions the relationships between philosophy, language, and thought in his unique style.
In the event held with high attendance at Gorgoli Bezirhane on Friday, March 27, we had a productive conversation on the ancient wisdom tradition of Anatolia within a broad framework ranging from philosophy to Sufism, history to literature, and art to cinema.
We thank all our participants who showed interest in our event.
Aiming to bring historical spaces together with contemporary academic discourses, “Bezirhane Talks”, of which the Cappadocia Research Center is one of the stakeholders, once again hosted a gathering of culture and thought at Gorgoli Bezirhane.
The guest of the program was researcher-writer Töre Sivrioğlu, known for his works on the history of religions, mythology, and cultural interactions in the Mediterranean world. The talk was held on Friday, March 13, at 20:30.
In the event, under the title “Byzantine Cappadocia and Its Iconography”, the region’s visual culture, iconographic programs, and their historical-theological contexts were discussed. Evaluating the artistic and intellectual heritage of Cappadocia’s Byzantine period from a broad perspective extending from prehistory to the present day, this talk concluded with great interest from the participants.
The historical bezirhane in Mustafapaşa, which was one of the important centers of trade, art, and culture during the Ottoman period, once again hosted a gathering of culture and thought that attracted great interest within the scope of “Bezirhane Talks,” maintained with the support of the Cappadocia Research Center (KAM). The event series, which aims to bring historical spaces together with contemporary academic discourses, took place this month with wide participation from attendees.
The guest of the program, held on Friday, December 19, was Prof. Dr. Kürşad Demirci, one of the leading figures in the field of the History of Religions.
At the event, the Christian belief systems shaped within the historical texture of Cappadocia, the development of early Christianity, and the reflections of this form of belief in the region were discussed. Shedding light on an important period of Christian history, the talk concluded with the active participation of listeners interested in the subject.
