Turkey - Yıldız Palace Complex

Located on top of a steep hill overlooking the Bosphorus, the Yıldız Palace (meaning the Star Palace) was the seat of Ottoman government and the residence of Sultan Abdülhamid II for 33 years (1876-1909). The property is a vast complex of pavilions and gardens surrounding the courtyards and designed in different styles. The area of the palace complex was originally made of natural woodlands and used for hunting by sultans since the early sixteenth century. The first pavilion in this area was built during the reign of Sultan Selim III (r. 1789-1808), who built a kiosk with a rococo a fountain for his for his mother Sultan Mihrishah. At mid-century, these structures, except the fountain, were demolished. During the reign of Sultan Abdülaziz (r. 1861-1876), new pavilions and summer palaces such as Malta Kiosk, Çadır Kiosk and Çit Pavilion were built by the architects of Balyan family. When Sultan Abdülhamid (r.1876-1909) ascended the throne, he transferred the court from the Dolmabahçe Palace to the Yıldız Palace which remained the seat of government throughout his reign. He enlarged the area and ordered the landscaping of the property, requesting rare flowers, trees and plants from different parts of the empire and beyond. He also ordered the renowned Italian architect Raimondo D’Aronco to erect new buildings to the palace complex. During this period, the property became a large complex situated in 500.000 square-meter area comprising several governmental, residential, industrial and cultural buildings including numerous pavilions, kiosks, theater, museum, library, repair shops and carpenter’s shop, imperial porcelain factory and military barracks. During this period, the palace complex housed more than 12,000 people including workers in the factories and workshops, according to some accounts.