Located on the Anatolian side of the Bosphorus, on the Beylerbeyi coast, the Şevket Paşa Mansion is a historical building that immediately catches the eye on the Bosphorus shore with its entirely white facade and elegant details.
This elegant mansion, rising on the Beylerbeyi coast, on the edge of the Bosphorus waters, makes an impressive impression at first glance with its white silhouette spreading around it. Located in the Beylerbeyi neighborhood of Üsküdar district, the mansion reflects the coastal accommodation culture of the Ottoman period to this day. Its fame has increased in recent years thanks to hosting the popular TV series "Yalı Çapkını" (The Seafarer's Flirt), and it captivates visitors with its historical texture and Bosphorus view. While the mansion maintains its mystery as it is surrounded by high walls and trees from the land, it generously displays all its splendor to those passing by at sea – leaving a sense of awe in those who look at the structure while passing through the Bosphorus.
History of Şevket Pasha Mansion
The Şevket Pasha Mansion was built in the late 19th century by Şevket Pasha, one of the leading statesmen of the Sultan Abdülhamid II era. A beautiful example of Ottoman civil architecture, this mansion has been one of the most sought-after residences on the Bosphorus coast since its construction. In the later years of the Republic, the splendor of the mansion was overshadowed for a time; in fact, its grounds were used as a sand depot for a period, and the structure fell into disrepair due to neglect. In the 1980s, the Sabancı Family purchased the mansion and initiated a comprehensive restoration and reconstruction process. This Ottoman heritage site, which was also used as the residence of the late Sakıp Sabancı, who was once the chairman of the board of directors of Sabancı Holding, was restored and renovated with a new layout, remaining as faithful to its original form as possible, after obtaining permits from the Monuments Board. Currently owned by Dilek Sabancı, the mansion attracted widespread attention in the 2020s when it was used as a filming location for the TV series "Yalı Çapkını" (The Seafarer's Mansion) broadcast on Star TV, solidifying its place among the most valuable structures on the Bosphorus. Şevket Paşa Mansion remains privately owned. Although the interior is closed to visitors, it is possible to see this historical building from the outside – especially from the sea during a Bosphorus boat tour.
Architecture of Şevket Pasha Mansion
The Şevket Pasha Mansion in Beylerbeyi is a wooden seaside mansion that blends the elegance of classic Ottoman mansion architecture with the neo-classical influences of the late 19th century. Built over three floors, the exterior of the building is entirely painted white and enlivened with wooden panels, carved decorations, and decorative window frames. The large windows lining the sea-facing facade generously bring daylight and Bosphorus views to the interior rooms. The ground floor of the mansion is planned to consist of three interconnected sitting rooms and a large dining room that can serve approximately 25 people at the same time. The upper floors contain bedrooms, dressing rooms, bathrooms, and a breakfast room overlooking the Bosphorus. There is also an attic floor in the building. The interior decoration reflects the simple and elegant taste of the Sabancı Family; during Sakıp Sabancı's time, the mansion was furnished in a simple yet elegant style, stripped of ostentatious details. The large garden on the land side of the mansion was also enriched with various trees and landscaped during its restoration. With all these architectural features, renewed while preserving its historical texture, Şevket Paşa Mansion continues to reflect both the memories of the past and the splendor of the present, as one of the most striking mansions on the Bosphorus coast.
Exploring Şevket Pasha Mansion by Yacht
Located on the Beylerbeyi coast, the Şevket Paşa Mansion stands between the weight of palatial architecture and the intimacy of a residential scale, serving as one of the best examples of the balanced transition characteristic of this part of the Bosphorus. From the sea, the mansion appears neither entirely monumental nor an ordinary residence; this intermediate scale gives the building both a powerful and accessible character. This balance, often subdued from land, is much more clearly felt from water level thanks to the proportions of its facades and the distance it establishes from the shore. As the yacht moves parallel to the shore, the Şevket Paşa Mansion silently illustrates why the Beylerbeyi line can be interpreted as both a representational and a living space. At this point, the architecture derives its strength not from rigidity, but from its proportions and spatial decisions. The building simultaneously carries a seriousness approaching that of a palace and a tranquility belonging to a residence. Stopping and observing here allows one to realize how the architectural diversity of the Bosphorus can come together on a single line. Seeing the Şevket Paşa Mansion with this sense of transition offers a much more meaningful perspective when you sail along the Bosphorus on a yacht charter. Those wishing to create a plan that includes Şevket Paşa Mansion can review the yacht alternatives in our fleet online according to their preferences for duration and number of people, and evaluate step-by-step how the budget is shaped by adding menu and extra service options via yatkiralama.net/en.