Tekfur Sarayi's Roles Throughout History: From Byzantine Palace to Brothel to Lieu De Mémoire

Exploring Tekfur Sarayi's role in the urban landscape of Istanbul (or Constantinople) throughout history. This beautiful structure has been used for everything from a Byzantine royal palace to a storage place of the Ottoman Sultan's exotic pets. Throughout its existence, the Tekfur Sarayi has remained the best example of Byzantine architecture in Istanbul. This rich history has given the Tekfur Sarayi symbolic meaning in the cultural narrative of Istanbul, turning the palace into a modern day lieu de mémoire.