This vast park consists of mansions, gardens and lakes, the whole area surrounded by high walls, and all set in a superb hillside location. Popular at weekends and holidays with locals, it offers one of the few green areas within the city centre, and is a great place for walking, relaxing and eating. There is a steep walk up the hill from Ciragan Caddesi up to the first pavilion, but rewards are cooling breezes and sweeping views of the Bosphorus.


It was the centre of the Ottoman Empire for 30 years, during the reign of Abdulhamid II, and the second largest palace in Istanbul. Its main structure, Yildiz Palace, was built in the old Ottoman style and the pavilions which are dotted around the park were transformed into a power base. The most important remaining building is Sale Koske where receptions were held, and is the largest and most ornate and reveals the luxury in which the sultans lived and entertained. The first section was modelled on a Swiss Chalet, the second two completed in the late 19th century.


Some of the mansions are undergoing restoration, but Sale is open for visitors, and two have terraces serving food and drinks. Further along the path is a State museum, the Belediye Sehir Muzesi, and Yildiz Sarayi Theatre.
Park: Open daily 09.00 - 17.30
Sale Kosku: Open daily 09.30 - 17.00, except Monday and Thursday.
Museum: Open daily 09.00 - 16.30, except Monday.

History

Yildiz Palace, or Star Palace, was built in 1880 and was used by Ottoman Sultan Abdulhamid 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 Dolmabahçe 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, Topkapý and Dolmabahçe).

Arrangement

The palace is a complex of buildings including the State Apartments (Büyük Mabeyn), Sale Pavilion, the Malta Pavilion, the Cadir Pavilion, Yildiz Theater, Yildiz Palace Museum, and the Imperial Porcelain Factory.

State Apartments

Government officials working for Abdulhamid had their offices in this building.


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 the Malta Pavilion for 27 years.

Yildiz Theater

Built by Sultan Abdulhamid 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 Abdulhamid'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.

08.05.2008