Palace of the Porphyrogenitus, Byzantine palace museum in Ayvansaray, Turkey
The Palace of the Porphyrogenitus is a three-story structure of stone and brick with geometric patterns adorning the facade between the Edirnekapı and Eğrikapı gates. The building displays its characteristic construction with layered walls and primarily open floor plans distributed across multiple rooms and levels.
The palace was built in the late 13th century as part of the Blachernae complex and served as a residence for the Byzantine imperial family. After Constantinople fell in 1453, the structure was repurposed under Ottoman rule and survived many centuries of urban change.
The name refers to imperial children who may have lived here, and the rooms still display the intricate patterns of the brick walls. These walls tell of the connection between Byzantine craftsmanship and the later Ottoman use of the space.
The location sits along the old city walls and is walkable from the Golden Horn area, so plan for comfortable shoes. The surroundings are not heavily crowded with tourists, allowing you to explore the grounds with relative ease.
During Ottoman times the site became a ceramics workshop where tiles were produced to decorate royal buildings throughout the city. This transformation from palace to workshop shows how buildings found new purposes under new rule.
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