Yıldız Palace

Yıldız Palace, or the “Star Palace,” in Istanbul began as a leisure park for the sultans and gradually grew into a palace-and-garden complex. In the late 19th century, Sultan Abdülhamid II moved his residence here because of concerns about the security of Dolmabahçe Palace and commissioned the Italian architect Raimondo D’Aronco to redesign it. The main building combines Neoclassicism with Ottoman Baroque, featuring elaborate façades, domes and large windows. Its interiors unite traditional Ottoman style with Western luxury through furniture, carpets, wood carving and gilded chandeliers. Unusually, the palace was not divided into separate women’s and men’s quarters. Its halls display objects from the 15th to the 20th centuries, including clothing, jewellery, tableware, a carriage and items from the sultans’ daily lives, while one building is devoted specifically to Abdülhamid II. The complex is surrounded by Yıldız Park, filled with rare plants from around the world and offering panoramic views of the Bosphorus. Cafés operate in the historic Çadır and Malta pavilions.

The palace gardens contain rare plants from around the world, including Japanese camellias, Chinese ginkgo trees and African acacias, creating an exotic retreat in the heart of Istanbul.