Palaces in Turkey

Turkey is home to some of the most magnificent palaces in the world. From the end of the Byzantine Period (15th century) to the 19th century, Ottoman sultans built numerous castles and palaces. And in this article from Ebla Real Estate, we will talk about the most prominent palaces in Turkey.

Table of Contents

Palaces in Turkey:

Topkapı Palace:

Sultan Mehmed II built Topkapı Palace during the Byzantine period, six years after conquering Istanbul. The Topkapi Palace is one of the largest palaces in Istanbul. Moreover, it is so big that it’s divided into 15 sections. The complex has four main courtyards and several smaller buildings, including a harem where female members of the family lived.

Topkapı Palace served as the principal royal residence of the Ottoman sultans until the 17th Century. After that, the sultans resided in other palaces along the Bosphorus strait. At that time, Topkapı still had some administrative functions.

In 1924, after the founding of the Turkish Republic, the palace was converted into a museum. In 1985, this spot became part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Dolmabahçe Palace:

The Armenian Balyan Family constructed Dolmabahçe Palace as ordered by Sultan Abdulmecid. The Sultan decided to have this palace built as he thought Topkapı was old and deteriorating. Further, he wanted the Ottoman Empire to possess a palace that would rival the many luxurious castles and palaces in Europe.

The Dolmabahce Palace is the largest, most expensive, and intricately designed palace in Istanbul. Located on the European side of Istanbul in the Besiktas district, it was the main administrative center for the Ottoman Empire since the 19th century. Today, it is regarded as one of the top landmarks in Istanbul to visit.

The three-storey palace has 285 rooms, 44 halls, and six Turkish baths. What’s impressive about this palace is not just the crystal chandeliers which weigh several tons, but the fact that Dolmabahçe Palace has witnessed the latter part of the Ottoman era and the earlier part of the modern era.

Küçüksu Palace:

Kucuksu Pavilion is located on the Asian side of Istanbul between Anadoluhisarı and the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge.

It was commissioned by Sultan Abd-ul-Mejid I in 1823 and completed in 1857. Moreover, the pavilion was built to be a summer house for the Ottoman sultans for short hunting getaways. It was designed by Garabet Amira Balyan and his son Nigoğayos Balyan using traditional neo-baroque architecture.

The palace has two main stories and a basement, and unlike other pavilions, it has a garden surrounded by cast-iron railings.

The basement was where the kitchen, larder, and servant’s quarters were kept and the upper floors were decorated with traditional Turkish homely touches.

Furthermore, it was decorated with colorful Italian marble, crystal chandeliers from Bohemia, and woven upholstery from Hereke.

In the early Republican period, the pavilion was used as a guesthouse for state officials. Today, the palace is open to the public as a museum.

Yıldız Palace:

Yildiz Palace in Istanbul is the last palace to be built by the Ottoman sultans. It was built by Sultan Salim III for his mother after the Islamic conquest at the end of the 18th century. The palace is located on top of a hill in Yildiz Park.

The palace is made up of several different pavilions and villas, including a porcelain factory and an opera house. The Sale (Chalet), the largest and most exquisite of the buildings, reveals the luxury in which the sultans lived and entertained. The chalet is formed by two separate buildings; first one built in 1889 and the second one, known as Merasim Kosku (ceremonial kiosk), in 1898 by architect Raimondo D’Aronco.

The Palace is now a museum, and it has a library that hosts not only a vast collection of books but photographs too.

Çırağan Palace:

The Ciragan Palace was constructed in the 19th century under the rule of Sultan Abdulaziz. It was originally built as an Ottoman palace but is now a five-star hotel. Facing the shores of the Bosphorus Strait between Beşiktaş and Ortaköy on the European side, it has stunning views of the water and beyond. The Sultan’s Suite is ranked at number 14 on CNN’s ‘World’s 15 most expensive hotel suites’, making this the most luxurious accommodation in Istanbul.

The construction took four years (1863-1867) and was the last of the palaces in Istanbul to be built for a sultan, rather than using the originally built palaces. It was built using marble, where a marble bridge connects it to the beautiful Yildiz palace on the hill behind.

Aynalıkavak Palace:

The Aynalikavak Pavilion is one of the most historical pavilions in Istanbul as it was the birthplace of the Ottoman sultan Ibrahim III. The pavilion was once the fourth largest palace, known as Tersane Palace, in Istanbul. It is located in the Hasköy neighborhood on the European side of Istanbul.

It was constructed by Sultan Ahmed I and has undergone several renovations over time, but now only the Aynalikavak pavilion remains of the original structure.

The architecture of the pavilion dates back to the 18th century. It has only five rooms and an anteroom, plus an audience hall.

Ihlamur Palace:

Ihlamur Pavilion was originally a farm that Sultan Ahmed bought in the 18th Century. It started as a spot to practice their shooting but soon became a recreational spot for the royal family.

The İhlamur Kasrı has two main buildings – the Merasim Pavilion (used for ceremonies) and the Maiyet Pavilion (reserved for the court of the sultan or his harem). Since 1987, it has been a museum and a popular location to enjoy a cup of Turkish tea or coffee.