Our founder Dragana Lucija and her husband H. Oğuz Aydemir demonstrated at the end of 2024 in the Yunus Emre Turkish Cultural Center in Zagreb that a shared passion for heritage can foster mutual understanding – not just within families but also among nations. And what brings people together better than a good book? Or even better, two books!
Jacques Pervititch – A Turkish cartographer with Croatian roots
The first book, “The Plan of Izmir, 1923”, is a facsimile edition that takes us back to Izmir just after the great fire of 1922. Jacques Pervititch, born in 1877 as Jakub Pervitić in the village of Močići in Konavle, was a master cartographer who created Turkey’s first cadastral maps for insurance companies in the early 20th century. His maps of Istanbul and Izmir are invaluable historical documents today.
With this edition, presented to the Croatian public for the first time, his name symbolically returns home, enriching Croatian cartographic heritage. For this contribution, Dragana Lucija and Oğuz were awarded the Charter of the Croatian Cartographic Society. And such recognition is always a strong incentive for new projects!
Jelena Zrinska – A woman of inspiration
The second book, “The Zrinski and Frankopan Families and the Ottoman Empire”, brings a layered story of the historical ties between Croatian noble families and the Ottoman Empire. At its center is Jelena Zrinska – a woman whose life story could serve as the script for a historical thriller. After her family’s fall, she found refuge among the Ottomans – the age-old enemies of her ancestors.
What makes this book unique is that it brings, for the first time, two perspectives on historical events and figures together in one place. History is never black and white, and this book reminds us how much is hidden in the nuances.
Heritage – The key to understanding and connecting people and cultures
Through projects like these, Oğuz and Dragana Lucija demonstrate how a shared passion for heritage not only unites their family but also helps build bridges between nations, opening up new spaces for perspectives and collaboration. And stories are always more powerful when we tell them together.
