FESTIVAL DE KARAGÖZ

Karagöz is the name given to this traditional Turkish art that was popularized in the late Middle Ages and by extension to one of the characters (gypsy) of this same art. The art of Karagöz is said to have emerged during the ^16th century in the Ottoman Empire and was in great demand from the ^17th to the early ^20th century. The shadow show entertained the Ottoman sultans. Every year the Istanbul Puppet Festival pays tribute to this form of shadow theater. There is another Karagöz festival in the city of Bursa which also takes place in November.