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Once the secluded administrative hub of Sultan Abdulhamid II, Yildiz Palace in Istanbul is now preparing to welcome visitors to four newly restored museums.
Following its public opening on July 19, 2024, with the presence of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the palace has attracted nearly 700,000 visitors in its first year.
The upcoming additions are expected to further enrich the site’s historical and cultural offerings.
According to the National Palaces Administration, the soon-to-open areas include the Palace Theater, a Carpet Museum, a Furniture Museum, and a new gallery for rare objects.
The restoration efforts, now nearing completion, aim to provide deeper insight into Ottoman court life and artistic heritage.
Yasin Yildiz, president of the National Palaces, emphasized that the opening of Yildiz Palace to the public last year marked “a historic moment and a turning point in the preservation of cultural heritage.”
Once fragmented under the control of eight separate institutions, the palace complex has now been unified and made accessible as a single heritage destination.
Among the newly restored spaces, the Palace Theater stands out as a rare example of a royal stage structure in Türkiye.
Built in 1889, the building showcases a Western-style layout with a gilded ceiling, velvet seating, and a dedicated box for the sultan. Although historically significant, it has never before been open to the public.
Also set for opening is the Tamirhane-i Humayun, or Imperial Repair Workshop, which will house the Carpet Museum.
This large-scale atelier once employed around 300 artisans and produced various furnishings for the palace. It now presents an opportunity to explore the technical and aesthetic standards of 19th-century Ottoman weaving.
The Furniture Museum will be located in the Cukur Saray (Sunken Palace), a structure built for the sultan’s unmarried or widowed daughters and sisters. Situated within the harem complex, this museum will highlight the interior design sensibilities of the late Ottoman period, with original palace furniture on display.
Meanwhile, the Musahip Agalar Dairesi, formerly used by the sultan’s closest attendants, will be transformed into a Rare Objects Museum.
The gallery will exhibit selected items from the National Palaces’ extensive collection, offering a thematic showcase of unique artifacts.
Yildiz noted that the palace’s transformation from a fragmented site to a cohesive museum complex is progressing swiftly.
“Last year, we started with eight museums at Yildiz Palace. This year, that number will rise to twelve,” he said, expressing confidence that the annual visitor count will exceed one million.
Another significant building, the Fine Arts Hall—originally added during the reign of Abdulhamid II—has also been restored and will serve as the new home for a carpet exhibition featuring late Ottoman examples from the National Palaces collection.
All new museum areas have been equipped with updated infrastructure and contemporary museum technologies.
Visitors will benefit from audio guide systems, enabling them to explore each site at their own pace while accessing detailed information on the exhibits.
The restoration work has been supervised by the Scientific and Advisory Boards of the National Palaces, ensuring fidelity to historical accuracy and international preservation standards.
Yildiz Palace is open to visitors every day except Wednesday, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.
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