Architectural, Cultural sights in Istanbul
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Fethi Ahmet Paşa Yalı
On the Asian shore of the Bosphorus is the Fethi Ahmet Paşa Yalı, built in the late 18th century. The word yalı comes from the Greek word for 'coast', and describes the waterside wooden summer residences along the Bosphorus built by Ottoman aristocracy and foreign ambassadors in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, now all protected by the country's heritage laws. This one is known as the 'pink yalı'.
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Egyptian Consulate Building
Bebek's shops surround a small park and a mosque; to the east of these is the ferry dock, to the south is the former Egyptian consulate building. This gorgeous Art Nouveau mini-palace was built by the last khedive of Egypt, Abbas Hilmi II, who also later built Hıdiv Kasrı above Kanlıca on the Asian side of the Bosphorus. You'll see its mansard roof and ornate wrought-iron fence from the ferry.
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Küçüksu Kasrı
Sultan Abdül Mecit’s answer to a simple picnic blanket was Küçüksu Kasrı, an ornate lodge built in 1856–7. Earlier sultans had wooden kiosks here, but architect Nikoğos Balyan designed a rococo gem in marble for his monarch. You’ll see its ornate cast-iron fence, boat dock and wedding-cake exterior from the ferry.
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Hıdiv Kasrı
High on a promontory above Kanlıca is Hıdiv Kasrı, a gorgeous art nouveau villa built by the last khedive of Egypt as a summer residence for use during his family’s annual visits to İstanbul. You can see its square white tower (often flying a Turkish flag) from the ferry.
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Kırmızı Yalı
Opposite Bebek on the Asian shore is Kırmızı Yalı, constructed in 1790 and one of the oldest still standing; a bit further on, also past the village of Kandilli, is the long, white Kıbrıslı Mustafa Emin Paşa Yalı.
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Köprülü Amcazade Hüseyin Paşa Yalı
Just past Anadolu Hisarı (before the Fatih Bridge) is Köprülü Amcazade Hüseyin Paşa Yalı, built right on the water in 1698. It is the oldest mansion on the Bosphorus and is in a deplorable state of repair.
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