Esma Sultan Mansion is a historical building located on the European side of the Bosphorus, in the Ortaköy district.
History of Esma Sultan Mansion
Esma Sultan Mansion was built in the 18th century. Sultan Abdulaziz gave this mansion as a wedding gift to his daughter Esma Sultan, who married Circassian Mehmet Pasha.
Esma Sultan lived between 1873 and 1899 and was an important figure in the last periods of the Ottoman Empire.
After the death of Esma Sultan in 1899, Abdülhamid II gave the mansion to his sister Cemile Sultan. After he passed away, Fatma Sultan, the daughter of Murad V, bought the mansion by requesting Abdülhamid II.
Esma Sultan Mansion remained in the possession of the Ottoman Dynasty until 1915. The mansion, which has been used as a Greek school since 1918, had a big fire in the 1920s and has been used as a tobacco warehouse since 1922.
The mansion, which was purchased by Saffet Baştımar in 1952, is also known as the "Baştımar Mansion" because it was used as a carpentry shop, coal and furniture warehouse.
Esma Sultan Mansion was put up for sale in 1975 but was destroyed by a fire at that time. The derelict building, whose garden was used for concerts and invitations, was purchased by The Marmara hotel chain in the 1990s. With the restoration works, the outer walls were preserved and the interior was dressed with glass walls.
Today, there is a bar and restaurant on the ground floor of Esma Sultan Mansion, and there are parts that can be used as an event area on the second floor, which is entered by a steel curved staircase.
Architecture of Esma Sultan Mansion
The exterior of Esma Sultan Mansion is built of red brick and this material is the most distinctive feature of the mansion. This brickwork seen on the façade of the building is one of the most important elements that preserve the historical texture of the mansion.
The mansion is designed as a four-storey building and each floor consists of rooms that serve different purposes. As in traditional Ottoman residential architecture, large windows are placed in such a way that you can see the Bosphorus view in the best way.
There is a large garden area in front of Esma Sultan Mansion. This garden contained landscaping elements used in the Ottoman period, but today it has been remodeled with a modern touch.
Purchased by The Marmara hotel chain in the 1970s, the mansion has undergone an extensive restoration process. During the restoration, the original stone walls of the mansion were preserved, but the interiors were renovated with modern glass and steel elements. This has added both a historical touch and a contemporary aesthetic to the structure.
The glass and steel used in the restoration process were added to support the function of the mansion as a modern event space. These elements have created large, spacious spaces in the interiors of the mansion, adding a modern atmosphere to the space. The interior layout is designed in a functional and aesthetic way. Large halls, high ceilings and large windows reflect the original architectural character of the building.
How to Get to Esma Sultan Mansion
Yacht charter to go to Esma Sultan Mansion is the most enjoyable and luxurious option among the alternatives.
Reaching this historical place on the Bosphorus by sea will be both a pleasant and special experience for you.
You can make a cool entrance to Esma Sultan Mansion by getting hourly and daily yacht charter service from our company whenever you want, or you can take plenty of souvenir photos while passing by it during the Bosphorus tour.