In the Byzantine period, the Bukoleon Palace was located at the point where the large palace complex in the southern part of the peninsula met the sea. After their boat trips, emperors would disembark from their boats at the palace’s pier and proceed to their main palaces. The palace, dating back to 1610, was restored by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) in 2021. The İBB Heritage, under the İBB Cultural Assets Department, will transform the 1610-year-old Bukoleon Palace into an open-air museum, preserving Istanbul’s cultural heritage.
The Bukoleon Palace, located on the UNESCO World Heritage List, is situated within a 1st Degree Archaeological Site. It is believed that the 1,610-year-old palace was constructed in the 5th century along with its front wharf. Most of the surviving sections of the palace were added during the reign of Theophilos (829-842). Among these are the Pharos tower, the Emperor’s Wharf, and the cistern sections.
The Bukoleon Palace, used by kings during the Latin occupation, was moved to the Tekfur Palace after the occupation and left in a state of neglect. In the Ottoman period, the palace, which was affected by many negative factors in the area that turned into a settlement, faced an imminent danger of almost being lost.
Kaynak: İBB
