Turkish President Gül complains of Yıldız Palace’s neglected situation

ANKARA - Hürriyet

The palace is a complex of buildings including the State Apartments (Büyük Mabeyn), Şale Pavilion, the Malta Pavilion, the Çadır Pavilion, the Yıldız Theater and Opera House, the Yıldız Palace Museum, and the Imperial Porcelain Factory.

Turkish President Abdullah Gül has said Yıldız Palace in Istanbul’s Beşiktaş district is desolate and added that a comprehensive renovation would attract more tourists than the Topkapı Palace.

“The scene is [as if it is] ruined. There used to be electricity cables in the neighborhoods, which looked like a mess. The scene in Yıldız Palace was the same as this,” Gül told a group of journalists late April 6 when he attended the 90th Year Special Concert of Presidency Symphony Orchestrate (CSO).

“The authority over the place is shared between the Parliament, Ministry of Tourism, the intelligence organization and other groups. It’s not right. If the Yıldız Palace is set in order, it could attract more tourists than those visiting Topkapı Palace each year. There is a theater in the palace and it is very impressive. It also has other impressive parts as well,” said Gül.

Parliamentary speaker Cemil Çiçek, also present at concert, said Parliament was ready to transfer its authority over the palace to another institution in order to centralize all authority into one institution.
Gül hailed Çiçek’s proposal and recalled the work in the state art and sculpture museum. “Many paintings worth millions of Turkish Liras are in better condition thanks to the renovations,” said Gül.

The palace is a complex of buildings including the State Apartments (Büyük Mabeyn), Şale Pavilion, the Malta Pavilion, the Çadır Pavilion, the Yıldız Theater and Opera House, the Yıldız Palace Museum, and the Imperial Porcelain Factory. The Yıldız Palace Gardens are also a popular public site among the residents of Istanbul.

A bridge connects the Yıldız Palace with the Çırağan Palace on the Bosphorus through the palace gardens. The sultan’s residence was in the Şale Kiosk or pavilion. The building has two floors and a basement and is constructed from a mix of wood and stone. It was constructed in three phases. The Malta Kiosk, a pavilion located in Yıldız Park, was built by Sultan Abdülaziz, who used it to detain his predecessor.