This course aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the historical interactions between the Ottoman Empire and the Italian states from 1453 to 1683. It will explore key political, diplomatic, military, and cultural encounters while examining how the image of the "Turk" was constructed and evolved in Italy. By analyzing historical sources, literary texts, religious discourse, and artistic representations, students will gain insights into the mutual perceptions, ideological conflicts, and cross-cultural exchanges that shaped Ottoman-Italian relations within the broader European context.