The Sea Mansions

The Sea Mansions 

The countless sea mansions that sit proudly along the Bosphorus Strait are more formatively known as Yalıs. They were originally and traditionally built of wood and were popular with wealthy owners who used them as second homes, especially for holidays. Today’s Yalıs on the Bosphorus date from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries, making them an important part of the region’s history. 

Yalı is the typical riverside villa from the post-conquest period. They are houses built on the shores of the Golden Horn, the Bosphorus, and the Sea of Marmara, and whilst some were the size of a small fisherman’s house, others were the scale of grandeur as magnificent mansions and were even the waterfront stately homes of the sultans and the royal family. 

Yalıs was the opulence of summer houses. The windows usually had to be large and low so that a constant breeze flowed through the house and a panoramic view of the Bosphorus was always possible. Furniture was made exquisitely and to measure, and the furnishings reflected the family’s wealth and connections.

Many exist today, in various forms and functions, the Esma Sultan Mansion is now an ideal venue for weddings, events, and shows. Dating back to 1873, the hall exudes a charming history. It was given to Esma Sultan as a wedding present and served as her residence for several years. With the sheer magnificence and beauty of this place it is worth a visit for tourists who want to explore its history. 

Meanwhile, the Hekimbaşı Salih Efendi Yalısı can be often seen on most picture postcards of the Bosphorus. The large bridge that rises on the left casts a shadow at certain times of the day, towering over the yalı as if to downplay its importance. Most of the original architecture and furnishings have been preserved. A doctor of the Ottoman Empire named Salih Efendi built the privately owned property, and it was often said he was a passionate gardener and his large garden was filled with blooming flowers every summer. 

Not so much a mansion, the Hatice Sultan Palace in the Ortaköy district, is a magnificent palace built in the late 19th century and is a fine example of Neo-Classical architecture. The palace building now houses a water sports club.

If you believe in all things ghostly, the next waterfront mansion is a treat. The mansion of Yusuf Ziya Pasha is also known as the ‘Haunted Mansion’ and was built in the 1910s. At that time, Yusuf Ziya Pasha built on the Bosphorus for himself and his beloved wife, risking everything. However, with the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, the construction of the villa was not finished. When Yusuf Ziya Pasha’s ships sank one after another, the family was on the verge of bankruptcy. 

Pasha’s family moved into the mansion after being forced to return to Egypt due to financial difficulties. When the family started living on the last floor, the abandoned and unfinished mansion became known as the ‘haunted house’. 

If İstanbul is the heart of Türkiye, then the Bosphorus Strait is the soul of İstanbul. And although the Bosphorus is a familiar sight to residents and visitors alike, its beauty remains eternally breathtaking.