Palace of the Porphyrogenitus

The Palace of the Porphyrogenitus is also known as Tekfur Sarayi in Turkish. It is located in Ayvansaray, Istanbul, and remains one of the better-preserved structures built by the Byzantine Empire. The highlight of the palace is its architecture. There is also a museum within the palace premise.

A three-storeyed building, the walls, roofs, balcony, and courtyard are reflective of the other Byzantine period palaces and structures. The palace has undergone restoration works, however, the original beautiful designs and geometric patterns that are made from white marble and red bricks are stunning. The Palace of the Porphyrogenitus served as the last palace until the Ottoman Empire took over. Initially, the palace was built as an annex to the larger Blachernae complex situated in the ancient city of Constantinople. It was located on the highest point of Constantinople but was damaged during the Ottoman siege. The palace after its heydays was used for various purposes, such as a mini-zoo, ceramic workshop, and was also left abandoned until conservation and renovations began in 2010.