Sedat Bornovalı

Sedat Bornovalı
Born (1970-05-31) 31 May 1970
Istanbul, Turkey
EducationBoğaziçi University
Istanbul University
Istanbul Technical University
OccupationsArt historian, interpreter, tour guide, writer
AwardsOrder of Merit of the Italian Republic

Sedat Bornovalı (born 31 May 1970) is a Turkish art historian (PhD), interpreter, and professional tourist guide. He works in Italian, English, and Turkish. Bornovalı is known for his research on the architectural history of Istanbul, focusing on the interactions between Italian and Ottoman architects, and for his role as a guide and interpreter for visiting heads of state.

Biography

Born in Istanbul, Bornovalı attended the Italian High School of Istanbul.[1] He graduated in Tourism Administration from Boğaziçi University and in Art History and Geography from Istanbul University. He later completed his master's degree and PhD in the History of Architecture at Istanbul Technical University (İTÜ).[2] He serves as an Associate Professor at Nişantaşı University.[3]

Academic career

As an art historian, Bornovalı has contributed to various projects, including the inventory of Seljuk architecture.[4][5] His research primarily focuses on Byzantine and Ottoman art history, with specific attention to the works of Italian architects in Istanbul, such as Giulio Mongeri[6] and Raimondo D'Aronco.[7]

Hagia Sophia

Bornovalı has been cited in international media regarding the Hagia Sophia, often analyzing the building's historical stratifications and mosaics.[8][9] He was the first expert to officially propose the continuation of archaeological excavations within the UNESCO World Heritage complex after an 86-year hiatus.[10] He serves as a scientific consultant for the Hagia Sophia History and Experience Museum.[11]

Professional activity

Garibaldi House

Bornovalı coordinated the restoration of the Casa Garibaldi in Beyoğlu, the historic seat of the Italian Workers' Society (Società Operaia Italiana di Mutuo Soccorso), founded in 1863.[12][13] During the restoration, late Roman period graves (4th century AD) were discovered in the basement, marking a significant archaeological find for the district.[14]

Cultural and diplomatic role

Bornovalı has undertaken interpretation and briefing duties during state visits and diplomatic meetings. He interpreted for the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople,[15][16] and for Roman Catholic Popes during their visits to Turkey: Pope Benedict XVI in 2006,[17][18][19] and Pope Leo XIV in 2025.[20]

He has also served as an interpreter for Italian statesmen, including President Giorgio Napolitano and Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi,[21] as well as for Turkish Presidents Abdullah Gül and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.[22][23]

Affiliations

Bornovalı served as the Vice President of the Istanbul Tourist Guides' Guild (IRO) from 2002 to 2015,[24] later assuming the role of President in 2015 and serving a second term from 2018 to 2021.[25][26] Following his tenure at IRO, he was appointed as the Acting President of the Union of Tourist Guides' Chambers (TUREB) between 2021 and 2022.[27]

In addition to his leadership in tourism guidance, Bornovalı holds positions in several cultural heritage organizations. He has been a member of the Board of Trustees of the Cultural Awareness Foundation since 2009.[28] Since 2010, he has served as Vice Chairman of the Turkish Society of Art History,[29] Vice President of the Istanbul Italian High School Alumni Association,[30] and a member of the Turkish Archeological Sites and Museums Consulting Committee.[31]

He also serves on the Advisory Board of the Istanbul Site Management Directorate[32] and was a member of the Advisory Board for the 20th Annual Meeting of the European Association of Archaeologists in 2014.[33]

Honours and awards

Orders

Awards

  • Istanbul Tourism Awards – Special Award (2010)[36]
  • Skal International – "Quality in Tourism" Award (2011)[37]

Books

  • Boğaziçi'nin Tarih Atlası (The Historical Atlas of the Bosphorus) 2018 ISBN 978-605-08-2873-3
    • The Bosphorus: An Illustrated Story. From Prehistory to The Eurasia Tunnel 2019 ISBN 978-605-08-3019-4
    • Il Bosforo Una Storia Illustrata 2025 ISBN 978-625-6767-52-2
  • Tarihin En Uzun Şiiri Ayasofya (Hagia Sophia: The Longest Poem in History) 2020 ISBN 978-605-08-3242-6
    • Ayasofya (Fleksi Kapak) (Hagia Sophia (Flexi Cover)) 2020 ISBN 978-605-08-4546-4
    • Santa Sofia. Il poema più lungo della storia (Hagia Sophia: The Longest Poem in History - Italian ed.) 2021 ISBN 978-605-08-4663-8
  • Müzelik Müzeler (Museum-worthy Museums) 2021 ISBN 978-625-78443-6-9
  • Santa Maria Draperis & Beyoğlu'nda 400 Yıllık Bir Katolik Mabedi (Santa Maria Draperis & A 400-Year-Old Catholic Sanctuary in Beyoğlu) 2021 ISBN 978-625-74778-1-9
  • Surp Yerrortutyun Katolik Ermeni Kilisesi (Holy Trinity Armenian Catholic Church) 2025 ISBN 978-625-6270-79-4

Notes

  1. ^ "Intervista a Sedat Bornovali" (in Italian). Saf MagazinE. p. 20. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  2. ^ "Sedat Bornovalı" (in Turkish). İLD – İtalyan Liseliler Derneği. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  3. ^ "Doç. Dr. Sedat Bornovalı - Mühendislik Mimarlık Fakültesi" (in Turkish). İstanbul Nişantaşı Üniversitesi. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  4. ^ "100 Highlights of Turkish Architecture". Zaman (in Turkish). 9 August 2009. Archived from the original on 1 February 2016. Retrieved 5 December 2011.
  5. ^ "Inventory of Anatolian Selçuk buildings". Archived from the original on 29 January 2013. Retrieved 5 December 2011.
  6. ^ Bornovalı, Sedat (2016). "Bir İtalyan Mimarın İlk Ankara Ziyareti: Giulio Mongeri – 1897" [An Italian Architect's First Visit to Ankara: Giulio Mongeri – 1897]. Ankara Araştırmaları Dergisi (Journal of Ankara Studies) (in Turkish). 4 (2): 131–157. doi:10.5505/jas.2016.50469. Archived from the original on 18 July 2024. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
  7. ^ "Raimondo D'Aronco. Un architetto cosmopolita tra Friuli e Istanbul" (in Italian). Istituto Italiano di Cultura di Istanbul. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  8. ^ "Hagia Sophia: Secrets of the 1,600-year-old megastructure that has survived the collapse of empires". CNN. 12 July 2019. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
  9. ^ "Ayasofya: Mozaikler ve freskler ne olacak, kapatılacak mı?" [Hagia Sophia: What will happen to mosaics and frescoes, will they be covered?]. BBC News Türkçe (in Turkish). 24 July 2020. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  10. ^ "Divided Sanctuary: Claiming the Hagia Sophia, Turkey's Religious Battleground". The Politic (Yale University). 27 September 2020. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  11. ^ "Deneyim Müzeciliği Hikayeleri - Bölüm 4: Geçmişten Geleceğe Ayasofya" (in Turkish). YouTube. Retrieved 20 November 2025. Minute 0:21: Doç. Dr. Sedat Bornovalı - Ayasofya Tarih ve Deneyim Müzesi Bilim Danışmanı
  12. ^ "Società Operaia – Italyan Isci Cemiyeti Binasi". Vakif Restorasyon Yilligi (in Turkish). 2015.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  13. ^ "Garibaldi House, A New Cultural Temple in Istanbul" (PDF), TÜRSAB Magazine (345): 18–24, March 2014, archived from the original (PDF) on 2 July 2014
  14. ^ "İstiklal Caddesi'nin altı Roma mezarlığı" [Roman cemetery under Istiklal Avenue] (in Turkish). Hürriyet. 23 January 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  15. ^ "Vatanı seven onurlandırır! Sıra bizde" (in Turkish). Ekonomim. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  16. ^ "Rum Ortodoks Patriği Bartholomeos ve Kutsal Sinod Meclisi Arkeoloji Müzesi'ni gezdi" (in Turkish). Turizm Habercisi. 15 January 2014. Archived from the original on 25 January 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  17. ^ Rosaspina, Elisabetta (2 December 2006). "Mufti mi guardava ma non ho osato interrompere Sua Santità" [The Mufti was looking at me but I did not dare interrupt His Holiness]. Corriere della Sera (in Italian). Archived from the original on 13 November 2010.
  18. ^ "Pope Visits The Blue Mosque". CBS News. 30 November 2006. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 5 December 2011.
  19. ^ "Pope Benedict XVI is escorted by Mufti of Istanbul Mustafa Cagrici and his interpreter Sedat Bornovali". Getty Images. 30 November 2006. Retrieved 2 November 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  20. ^ "Pope Leo XIV Speaks With Dr. Sedat Bornovali". Getty Images. Getty Images. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  21. ^ "Berlusconi va in Turchia da Erdogan: «Legami personali utili a tutti»" (in Italian). Corriere della Sera. 9 July 2018. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
  22. ^ "İtalya Cumhurbaşkanı Napolitano Cumhurbaşkanı Gül'ün Misafiri" [Italian President Napolitano is President Gül's Guest] (in Turkish). Presidency of the Republic of Turkey. 17 November 2009. Archived from the original on 6 January 2010.
  23. ^ Türenç, Tufan (12 August 2018). "Büyükdere'den Atina'ya uçmak ister miydiniz?". Sabah (in Turkish). Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  24. ^ "İRO Yönetim Kurulu" [IRO Board of Directors] (in Turkish). Istanbul Tourist Guides' Guild (IRO). Archived from the original on 8 September 2013. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
  25. ^ Kapar Bayburs, Özlem (5 January 2019). "Rehberlerin 'rol model' Başkanı Sedat Bornovalı" [Guides' 'role model' President Sedat Bornovalı]. Turizm Günlüğü (in Turkish). Retrieved 11 December 2025.
  26. ^ "Rehberler Odası'nın yeni Başkanı oldu" [He became the new President of the Chamber of Guides]. Turizm Ajansı (in Turkish). 17 December 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2025.
  27. ^ "TUREB Başkanlığına Sedat Bornovalı vekalaten getirildi" [Sedat Bornovalı appointed as Acting President of TUREB] (in Turkish). Milliyet. 6 August 2021. Archived from the original on 24 August 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
  28. ^ "Board of Trustees" (in Turkish). Kültür Bilincini Geliştirme Vakfı. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
  29. ^ "Board of Directors". Turkish Society of Art History. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
  30. ^ "15.Yönetim ve Denetim Kurulu Listemiz" [15th. List of Board of Directors] (in Turkish). Italian High School of Istanbul. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
  31. ^ ""Müzekart Sahipleri Artık Sigortalı" Başlıklı Basın Toplantısı" ["Museum Card owners are insured now" Press Conference] (in Turkish). Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TURSAB). 16 November 2012. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
  32. ^ "Danışma Kurulu" [Advisory Board] (in Turkish). Istanbul Site Management Directorate. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  33. ^ "20th Annual Meeting Advisory Board". The 20th Annual Meeting of the European Association of Archaeologists. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
  34. ^ "Cavaliere Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana" (in Italian). Retrieved 5 December 2011.
  35. ^ "Ufficiale Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana" (in Italian). Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  36. ^ "Turizmde 'onur ödülü' Başkan Topbaş'a…" ['Honorary Award' in Tourism to Mayor Topbaş] (in Turkish). Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. 4 December 2011. Archived from the original on 6 April 2012. Retrieved 12 December 2011.
  37. ^ "Turizm Oscar'ları muhteşem bir törenle sahiplerini buldu" [Tourism Oscars were announced at a magnificent ceremony] (in Turkish). 13 December 2011. Archived from the original on 26 April 2012. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
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