Project to shed light on Manisa Palace

MANİSA - Anatolia News Agency

AA photo

The Manisa Governor’s Office has initiated a new project to rebuild the ruined Manisa Palace (Saray-ı Amire), originally built in 1403 and known as the most important Ottoman structure in Anatolia after the Topkapı Palace.

Famous for hosting the sultan’s sons during their education, after the Ottoman Empire forbade the sultan’s children from being educated outside of Istanbul, the castle fell into abandon. The palace was later damaged and burned during the War of Independence.

“Today, only the Fatih Sultan Mehmet tower is standing and the rest of the palace is damaged and vanished,” according to Manisa Provincial Tourism Directorate manager Erdinç Karaköse. Despite most of the palace being buried in what is today a park, Karaköse says the new project will rebuild the palace in its original location as a contribution to the tourism of Manisa.

With the support of the Manisa Governorship, a model of the palace has been made from a sample miniature drawn by the famed Ottoman-era miniature painter Nakkaş Osman, reflecting authentic Ottoman styles using the miniature as a guide.

 “Manisa was one of the most important cities of the Ottoman Empire and the palace is proof of that…it hosted the sultan’s sons for many years for education,” Karaköse said. “With this project, Manisa will be once again remembered for the sons of sultans. This will help the city regain its identity and its heritage.”

The Manisa Palace was first built by Murad the Second at the turn of the 15th century and was later enlarged by Fatih Sultan Mehmet.