Palace of the Porphyrogenitus: the last Byzantine palace by the walls

History of the palace

The palace is the only large surviving building of the Blachernae Palace complex, where the Byzantine emperors lived in their last centuries. The geometric decoration in red brick and white stone on its three-storey facade is one of the finest examples of late Byzantine architecture. “Tekfur” was the name the Ottomans gave to Byzantine governors and lords.

After the conquest the building was used for various purposes. The “Tekfur Sarayı tiles” produced in workshops set up here in the early 18th century were used to decorate many mosques in Istanbul at a time when İznik was in decline. The tile kilns and fragments found in excavations are now displayed in the museum.

What to see in the museum

• The restored palace halls and Byzantine wall decoration
• Byzantine and Ottoman ceramics found in excavations, and the remains of tile kilns
• Digital displays telling the history of the palace and the Blachernae area
• A terrace overlooking the Golden Horn and the walls

A half-day with nearby sights

The palace is about a 10-minute walk from the Kariye Mosque, famous for its mosaics and frescoes. Seeing both in the same morning and then walking along the land walls to Edirnekapı, or down to the streets of Fener and Balat on the Golden Horn, makes a good half-day plan.

Visiting tips

• Choose a sunny day to photograph the Golden Horn and the walls from the terrace.
• If you are combining it with the Kariye Mosque, go to Kariye first and then the palace; you will be walking downhill.
• The area has slopes and narrow pavements; a baby carrier is easier than a stroller.