Istanbul is gaining yet another open-air museum...

Representatives of tourism sector organizations and the tourism media came together at the restoration site of the Bucoleon Palace, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage list, at an event organized by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Tourism Platform. On behalf of TÜROB - Association of Turkish Hoteliers, Secretary General İsmail Taşdemir and Board Members Kasım Zoto, Recep Arifoğlu, and Ziya Cihan attended the event.

The large ramp of the palace, located in Çatladıkapı on the Historic Peninsula, was used as a passageway from the palace to the harbor and quay. The Bucoleon Palace, built in the 5th century by Theodosius and determined to have been used by kings during the Latin occupation, is known to have been rebuilt in its current form in the 9th century by the Byzantine Emperor Theophilos. The window of the seaward part of the palace, which also houses the oldest fountain in Istanbul, was closed off with an addition during the Ottoman era.

As a result of the restoration work currently carried out by İBB Miras within the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) Department of Cultural Heritage, the Imperial staircase used to enter the palace and the Monumental entrance columns have been brought to light. The work is targeted for completion in 2023.

Following the excavation and restoration work, the Bucoleon Palace will be turned into an open-air museum and opened to visitors as part of the city’s cultural heritage.