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One of the most recognisable waterfront mansions on the Bosphorus, the "Bahai Yalisi" in Istanbul’s Kanlica district, has been listed for sale at $24.5 million.
The property has appeared in several popular Turkish TV series, including Kanal D’s Intikam, which starred Beren Saat, Mert Firat, Nejat Isler, and Zafer Algoz. Other productions filmed at the mansion include "Can Borcu," "Dogdugun Ev Kaderindir," "Sandik Kokusu," and "Kucuk Sirlar."
The mansion belongs to businessman Ozer Benardete, a former member of the Istanbul Horse Riding Club board. It sits on a one thousand square metre plot and has a usable interior space of four hundred eighty six square metres.
For years, production companies rented the property as a filming location, and it became one of the best known residential settings on Turkish television.
The mansion also holds historical importance. Historical records state that it was commissioned by Mehmet Bahai Efendi, who served as the Sheikhulislam (Outstanding Islamic scholar) during the reign of Ottoman Sultan Murad IV.
Bahai Efendi came from a prominent scholarly family, was the grandson of Sheikhulislam Hoca Sadeddin Efendi, and was born in Istanbul in 1595 according to most sources.
Kanlica’s Bahai Cove, also known as Bahai Gulf, took its name from this mansion.
Ottoman archives and later research note that the original structure built by Bahai Efendi burned down during the nineteenth century. After the fire, Ithtisap Agasi Kor Tahsin Efendi built a new mansion on the same site, but the name Bahai Mansion continued to be used.
Historical descriptions included in Odatv’s reporting refer to the mansion as one of the most impressive examples of Turkish architectural design of its period. Earlier documents cited by architect Sinan Genim describe a building decorated with tiles and admired among Bosphorus mansions.
It hosted receptions, including dinners for the Austrian ambassador. The surrounding bay became a well-known leisure route during the Ottoman era, famous for moonlight outings, boat parades, and musical gatherings involving hundreds of kayiks.
Kanlica itself was home to many mansions built by high-ranking Ottoman officials. These properties were generally divided into selamlik sections for guests and haremlik sections for family life.
Bahai Mansion followed this pattern and held a prominent place on today’s Baris Manco Street that faces the waterfront.
Bahai Efendi lived during a turbulent period in the seventeenth century. He became a scholar at a young age, rose quickly to the rank of judge, and served in Selanik and Aleppo.
A dispute with Aleppo’s governor led to his exile to Cyprus during the strict rule of Sultan Murad IV. He returned to Istanbul after receiving a pardon in 1636 and held several senior positions, eventually becoming Sheikhulislam in 1649.
His appointment came at a time when political power rested with palace factions and the military corps rather than the young Sultan Mehmed IV. Sources recount that a legal dispute involving an English consul triggered tensions with the military officers. This conflict led to his removal from office in 1651.
Bahai Efendi spent his final years in the Kanlica mansion that later defined the name of the bay. He died there on 2 January 1654 from whooping cough and was buried near Fatih Mosque.
Today, the Bahai Mansion has become a rare property that connects Ottoman history with contemporary popular culture.
Its long use by television producers kept the mansion in the public eye, and it remains one of the most filmed residential structures on the Bosphorus. The property’s listing at 24.5 million dollars places it among the highest priced mansions currently on the market in Istanbul.
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