Ethem Pertev Mansion

Ethem Pertev Mansion is an impressive waterfront villa considered one of the pearls of the Istanbul Bosphorus. Located in the Kanlıca district, on Barış Manço Street, this historic mansion is also known by the names Süslü Yalı and Saraylı Hanım Yalısı. When viewed from the cool waters of the Bosphorus, the white-painted exterior of the wooden structure and its elegant, carved balcony immediately catch the eye. With its majestic stance, the mansion captures the admiration of local and foreign visitors sailing through the Bosphorus at first sight, offering a unique silhouette with its eclectic style that blends Ottoman elegance with European influences.

History

The history of the Ethem Pertev Mansion dates back to the mid-19th century. Built in 1860 during the reign of Sultan Abdülmecid for Fatma Hanım, a member of the palace, the mansion brought the fashion of the era to the Bosphorus with its details reflecting the Arabesque and Art Nouveau styles. The building, which consists of two separate sections, has a two-story harem section on the Kanlıca side and a single-story selamlık section. Its status as one of the rare mansions along the Bosphorus with separate harem and selamlık makes it architecturally distinctive. Due to Fatma Hanım's status as a palace member, the building was referred to for many years as the 'Saraylı Hanım Mansion.' Ethem Pertev Bey, one of the famous pharmacists of the Ottoman Empire, was known for pharmacy products such as creams and syrups named after him. Ethem Bey moved in as a tenant in 1905, half a century after the mansion's construction, and believing that this place brought him good luck, he purchased it in 1909. As the new owner of the mansion, he immediately added a wide balcony with wooden decorations to the facade facing the sea and constructed a single-story reception building in the south, ensuring there would be a small garden left. Thus, the mansion has taken on its present form with the harem and selamlık sections.

However, the peaceful days at Ethem Pertev Bey's mansion do not last long. In 1913, as a result of the waves created by a large ship passing through the Bosphorus, Ethem Bey experienced deep sorrow after tragically losing his son Fehmi in the boathouse beneath the mansion. After this unfortunate incident, Ethem Bey, who never smiled again, moved away from his beloved mansion to Erenköy; he passed away in 1927. The mansion was owned by his family for a while before being purchased in 1932 by Hayri Bey, one of the captains of the Şirket-i Hayriye. The structure continued to change hands during the Republic period, passing into the ownership of Fatma Mürşide Hanım in the 1950s and subsequently to Mehmet Adnan Güneş, and finally, in 2000, it was purchased by Nina Lydia Joukowsky Köprülü from the New York-based Joukowsky family. The mansion, registered and protected as a "Cultural Heritage" in 1971, has largely preserved its original appearance thanks to maintenance and restorations over the years. In fact, despite suffering serious damage from the collision with the 106-meter-long cargo ship named Majed & Randy, which went out of control in the Bosphorus in 2015, it has regained its splendor after the necessary repairs.

Today, the Ethem Pertev Mansion is privately owned and not open to visitors. The mansion was used as a residence by socialite Etel Baler and her husband for a time, and Baler even brought attention to this historic house by opening it up for a magazine in 2019. In recent years, news has emerged that during the separation process of the Baler couple, the mansion would be put up for sale at a staggering price of approximately 190 million TL; however, the official owner of the mansion is actually Nina Joukowsky, and the Baler family was renting it. The structure is still used as a private residence belonging to the Joukowsky family. This elegant mansion continues to be one of the Bosphorus's rare cultural heritage sites, carrying stories and architecture from the past to the present.

Explore By Yacht

Renting a yacht in the Bosphorus is one of the most enjoyable ways to see and photograph historical mansions like the Ethem Pertev Mansion up close. Approaching this mansion, which is not open to the public, from the sea provides a great advantage to fully experience it from the outside. During a boat trip from Kanlıca beach, you can examine the fine wooden decorations and balcony details on the seaside facade of the mansion up close, which would be impossible to notice from land. Accompanied by the nostalgic atmosphere of the Bosphorus, seeing this magnificent mansion from the water gives visitors a sense of time travel.

When you rent a yacht for your personal Bosphorus tour, you have the freedom to plan your route and breaks as you wish. Whether in the early light of the morning or during the golden hour of sunset, you can enjoy the view of Ethem Pertev Mansion from the best angle during a special yacht trip at the shores of Kanlıca. Away from crowded tour boats, it is possible to explore this historical mansion peacefully in an environment exclusive to you and your loved ones. While watching the white silhouette of the mansion and the green groves in the background from the yacht deck, you will enjoy the unique view of the Istanbul Bosphorus and witness the stories of such special structures.

If you want to fully experience the historical and natural beauties of Istanbul, you should rent a yacht and enjoy the privilege of exploring the beauties of the Bosphorus at your own pace. With the tour you will take on your rented yacht, you can freely see the mansions scattered all around the Bosphorus and stop wherever you like to take photos. While greeting palace-like structures such as Ethem Pertev Mansion from the sea, you will feel the traces of the past and accumulate unforgettable memories against the storybook skyline of the city.