The Legend of Beylerbeyi Palace

Beylerbeyi Palace is a magnificent complex situated on the Asian shore of the Bosporus in Istanbul’s Üsküdar district, serving as an Ottoman summer residence and a state guesthouse. Taking its name from the Beylerbeyi neighborhood, the structure embodies an atmospheric narrative shaped by late imperial splendor and dramatic history.

Before the current masonry palace was built, the site housed a wooden palace complex constructed in 1832 by Sultan Mahmud II. According to historical records and oral accounts, a major fire broke out here in 1851 while Sultan Abdulmejid was staying, leading the structure to be labeled as 'cursed' and subsequently abandoned.

Left unused due to its ill-fated reputation, the old wooden building was completely demolished in 1861 upon the orders of the newly ascended Sultan Abdulaziz. Commissioned by the Sultan, the construction of the new palace was directed by architect Sarkis Balyan, with work commencing on August 6, 1863, and finishing in 1864.

Following the selection, creation, and placement of its furnishings, the palace officially opened on April 21, 1865. Sultan Abdulaziz took a personal interest in the interior decoration, driven by his deep passion for the sea, and established a tradition of retreating to the palace every April.

The summer palace was constructed as a masonry building on a high basement across two stories, fusing Renaissance, Baroque, and traditional eastern-west styles. Comprising a harem section in the north and a selamlık in the south, the rectangular building contains three entrances, six large halls, twenty-four rooms, a Turkish bath, and a bathroom.

The interior is richly decorated with wood carvings, gold embroidery, and inscriptions in sülüs and ta'lik calligraphy. The ground floor features a glass-covered indoor pool fed by seawater, while ceiling cartouches incorporate marine and ship motifs reflecting the Sultan's personal fondness for the sea.

In line with its intended purpose, Beylerbeyi Palace hosted numerous visiting heads of state and royalty. Empress Eugénie of France, Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria-Hungary, King Nikola of Montenegro, and Naser al-Din Shah Qajar of Persia are among the distinguished foreign guests who stayed at the palace.

The palace also witnessed turbulent historical events; during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878, refugees and wounded soldiers were sheltered and treated here. Deposed Sultan Abdulhamid II spent the last six years of his life under house arrest at the palace, passing away within its walls on February 10, 1918.

During the Republican era, the palace was assigned to the Directorate of National Palaces by a 1925 cabinet decree and hosted Shah Reza Pahlavi of Iran in 1934 at the invitation of Atatürk. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk also spent a night at the palace during the Balkan Games Festival in 1936.

Over time, parts of its expansive gardens were allocated to the Highways Agency and the Naval Petty Officer School, while the construction of the 1973 Bosphorus Bridge disrupted the spatial integrity of the complex. The structure had previously undergone repairs by architect Vedat Tek in 1909.

Today functioning as a museum-palace open to the public, Beylerbeyi Palace preserves its heritage through Hereke carpets, Baccarat crystal chandeliers, and porcelain vases from China, Japan, France, and Yıldız, presenting a captivating glimpse into late Ottoman royal life.