istanbul

At the point where the Theodosian land walls join the older wall of the Blachernai, in the later middle ages a palace was built across the space between the main and front wall. This building is the only remaining part of the palaces in the Blachernai region. Usually it is dated in the late 13th century and identified with the Palace of Constantine Porphyrogennetos, a son of Michael VIII Palaiologos. However, it is possible that the 13th century building uses parts of older constructions. For this reason, and because the façade with its decorative brick settings is definitely one of the best works among the few pieces of secular architecture that have survived, we decided to include it here.

—————————————————————————————-

The Blakhernai Palaces, known today as Tekfur Palace, was built by the Byzantines in the 12th century and used as an imperial residence until the Conquest of Constantinople in the 15th century. The palace complex was built next to the city walls at the ancient Blakherna district, in todays Egrikapi neighborhood near Kariye (old church of St. Savior in Chora). The area was one of the seven hills of the old city. The cellars of the palace, known as Anemas Dungeons, were also built next to the walls a little bit further north, just near Ivaz Efendi Mosque.

During the Byzantine period, Tekfur palace was also known as Constantine Porphyrogenetus Palace. It was a pavilion of the Blakhernai Palace complex. The pavilion had three floors with a wooden roof and wooden floors, and was used by the emperor during his visits to the Theotokos church where the mantle of Virgin Mary was kept. The pavilion was enlarged during the reign of Manuel Komnenos I in the 12th century and became a summer residence for the Byzantine emperors.

After the Conquest of Constantinople until today, it was named as Tekfur palace and was used as a storage, stable, bottle blowing factory, ceramics atelier, and so on.

Today, one can see the façade of the Tekfur palace and the remains of four walls. It has a rectangular plan. Outer walls, arches and window frames of the palace are decorated with stones and bricks. If you follow the walls to the direction of the Golden Horn, you can reach to the Anemas Dungeons as well. At the moment these tunnels and halls are being cleaned so it’s not open to the public, it can be visited only by a special permission.

Hope to see you soon in Istanbul.

—————————————————————————————-

Constantinople’s last extant Byzantine imperial palace, is just a shell, but it gives a fine idea of what the emperor’s residence might have looked like in Byzantine times.

Built into the city walls only a short walk from the Kariye Museum (Chora Church), this Palace of Constantine Porphyrogenetus (called in Turkish Tekfur Sarayi, ‘Emperor’s Palace’) probably adjoined the larger Blachernae Palace. It was constructed during the late 1200s or early 1300s for Emperor Constantine Porphyrogenetus (‘Born to the Purple,’ ie, to wear the color reserved for the emperor).

After the Ottoman conquest (1453) it served as part of the sultan’s menagerie, later as a brothel, then as a pottery workshop and a poorhouse before being abandoned in the later 1700s.

It was closed for extensive restorations in 2006.

http://www.byzantium1200.com/tekfur.html

Send article as PDF to

Tags:12th century, 13th century, 15th century, byzantine emperors, byzantine period, byzantines, century building, chora, city walls, conquest of constantinople, constantine, decorative brick, imperial residence, land walls, Palace, palace complex, palaces, secular architecture, seven hills, virgin mary, wooden floors