This attractive part of the Bosphorus on the Asian shore is mentioned by Byzantine historians, and in Ottoman times became one of the imperial parks known as Kandil Bahcesi (Lantern Garden). Sultan Murad IV (1623-1640) was particularly fond of Kucuksu and gave it the name Gumus Selvi (Silver Cypress), and in several sources from the 17th century onwards the name Bagce-i Goksu is used.During the reign of Mahmud I (1730-1754) Divittar Mehmed Pasa built a two storey timber pala
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The area of Beylerbeyi on the Asian shore of the Bosphorus has been settled since Byzantine times. According to the famous 18th century traveller inciciyan, Constantine the Great erected a cross here, after which the area was known as the Istavroz Gardens. Under the Ottomans this area was an imperial park or hasbahce. Inciciyan relates that the name Beylerbeyi was given to this area in the 16th century because Mehmed Paţa who held the title of beylerbeyi (governor ge
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The hilltop site of these royal lodges overlooking the Bosphorus is between the districts of Levent and Ayazaga on the European shore. Sultan Mahmud II (1808-1839) first had a pavilion constructed here, and Abdulhamid II (1876-1909) lived in the later pavilion as a young man. Exactly when the royal lodges were constructed and by whom is unknown, but most can be roughly dated to the reign of Abdulaziz (1861-1876).Set in a wooded park with an area of 170,000 square metres, the
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Ihlamur Valley lying behind the district of Besiktas was a popular picnic place in the early 18th century, when the vineyards here belonged to Haci Huseyin Aga, superintendent of the Naval Arsenal. Although this attractive spot became an imperial estate during the reign of Ahmed III (1703-1730), it continued to be known by this name until the mid-19th century. Abdulhamid I (1774-1789) and his son Selim III (1789-1807) frequently visited this park.Ihlamur Pavilions were part
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