Yıldız-Palast, Istanbul

Yildiz Palace

is a collection of pavilions and villas in Istanbul built in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Origin
Yildiz Palace, or Star Palace, was built in 1880 and was used by Sultan Abdul Hamid II. The area it was built in was originally natural woodlands and became an imperial estate during the reign of Sultan Ahmet I (1603-1617). Various sultans after Ahmet I enjoyed vacationing on these lands and Abdulmecid and Abdulaziz built mansions here.

In the late 19th century, Sultan Abdulhamid left Dolmabahce because he feared a seaside attack on it to make the palace his home. He expanded the palace and built new buildings around his new home. When he moved there, the palace became the fourth seat of Ottoman government (the previous ones were Eski Saray, Topkapi and Dolmabahce). Abdulhamid was interested in opera and hosted many famous European performed at the Opera House that was housed within the palace complex.

Arrangement
The palace is a complex of buildings including the Sale Pavilion, the Malta Pavilion, the Cadir Pavilion, Yildiz Theater, Yildiz Palace Museum, and the Imperial Porcelain Factory.

Sale Pavilion
The sultan’s residence was in the Sale Pavilion. The building has two floors and a basement and constructed from a mix of wood and stone. It was constructed in three phases. The first part was built in the 1870s and was designed to resemble a Swiss chalet. Winston Churchill and Charles de Gaulle were among the visitors to this part of the palace. The second section was added in 1889 to accommodate Kaiser Wilhelm II, who was the first foreign monarch to visit Constantinople. It was during this phase that the Sedefli Salon (Mother-of-Pearl Salon) was added. It derived its name from the extensive use of mother-of-pearl that covered almost all of its surfaces. There are also detailed painted landscapes on the ceiling. The third section was also built for Kaiser Wilhelm II in 1898. The reception chamber was built during this period and remains the most impressive room in the entire Sale pavilion. There is a single carpet on the floor that has an area greater than 400 meters squared and was hand woven by 60 weavers. Elegant features of the chamber include a gilded, coffered ceiling and large mirrors. Abdulhamid was a skilled carpenter and actually made some of the pieces of furniture that can be found in the Sale Pavilion.

Malta and Cadir Pavilions
These were built by Sultan Abdul Aziz (1861-76), who used them as prisons. Murad the V and his mother were held in Malta Pavilion for 27 years.

Yildiz Theater
Built by Sultan Abdul Hamit in 1889, it has stars on its domed ceiling, a reference to the name of the palace. Because no one was allowed to have his back to the sultan, the positioning of the sultan’s balcony box meant that the first row seats were never used.

Yildiz Palace Museum
This used to be Abdul Hamit’s carpentry workshop and is now used to display art and objects from the palace.

Imperial Porcelain Factory
Opened in 1895, the factory was constructed to meet the demand of the upper classes for European-style ceramics. The bowls, vases and plates it produced often pictured idealized scenes of the Bosphorus. The building has an interesting appearance in that it resembles a European medieval castle.

Post-Palace Use
After the Ottoman Empire ended, the palace was used as a luxury casino before being converted into a guest house for visiting heads of state and royalty. Today it is a museum and its gardens can be used for private receptions.

Visiting
The palace is located in Besiktas and open daily from 9:30 to 4 except on Mondays and Thursdays.