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Aynalıkavak Pavilion (Aynalıkavak Kasrı) was part of an Ottoman imperial palace in Istanbul, Turkey. It’s located along the shores of the Golden Horn in Hasköy.
History of Aynalıkavak Pavilion
Aynalıkavak Pavilion was part of the Shipyard Palace (Tersane Sarayı). The palace was built in the gardens of the Ottoman Imperial Shipyard, and what was believed to be the resting grounds of Byzantine emperors. Some sources claim construction of the palace started during the reign of Mehmed the Conqueror, while others claim it was built by Süleyman the Magnificent. Yet another source claims the first building was completed in 1613 under Sultan Ahmed I.
The Shipyard Palace was a favorite of Sultans Murad IV and Ibrahim. It burned down completely in the late 17th century during the reign of Sultan Mehmed IV, and was later rebuilt. It was then used occasionally by Sultan Ahmed III in the early 18th century.
The Shipyard Palace was in ruins by the end of the 18th century during the reign of Sultan Abdülhamid I. It was restored by Sultan Abdülmecid I in the middle of the 19th century.
Visiting Aynalıkavak Pavilion
Foreign visitors can take a self-guided audio tour of Aynalıkavak Pavilion for 130₺ (as of January 2024), or enter the grounds only for 20₺ (as of January 2024). It’s open daily except Mondays and there’s a café on the property. You can get there by taking a bus from Taksim or Eminönü running along the north shore of the Golden Horn. Check the official website for more info. (Note: Aynalıkavak Pavilion will become part of the Tersane Istanbul development in the future.)
Features of Aynalıkavak Pavilion
There were many structures belonging to the Shipyard Palace, but the only one surviving today is Aynalıkavak Pavilion. It dates back to the 18th century and became a museum in 1984. It was restored again in 2010.
The pavilion has five rooms and an antechamber, along with an audience hall where the Sultan would receive his guests. Photos are forbidden inside.
The lower floor of the pavilion contains a small museum displaying Turkish musical instruments. It’s organized according to the musical interests of Sultan Selim III.
Grounds
The grounds of the pavilion contain beautiful gardens, a café, and a fountain. They’re a pleasant place to walk, have a coffee or tea, or just sit and relax.
One of the interesting features in the gardens is a target stone (nişan taşı), which marks an archery distance record by Sultan Selim III. It was placed there in August 2014.
