Palace of Constantine Porphyrogenituschi

Sacred buildings often endure because they continue to be used, even though they may be converted for use in another religion. Put simply, there’s something a bit dodgy about razing a place of worship, and not too many people want to do it. No such squeamishness surrounds secular buildings such as palaces, though, and history shows that these are often torn down and rebuilt to cater to the tastes and needs of different generations. İstanbul is no different – the Byzantine palaces that once crowded Sultanahmet Sq are all gone, and so is most of the Great Palace of Blachernae, which was also in this neighbourhood. Only the Tekfur Sarayı remains. Though the building is only a shell these days, it is remarkably preserved considering its great age. Built in the late 13th or early 14th century and located close to the end of Theodosius II’s wall, it was a large three-storeyed palace that may have been an annex of the Palace of Blachernae. Later uses were not so regal: after the Conquest it functioned in turn as a menagerie for exotic wild animals, a brothel and a poorhouse for destitute Jews. To see it, wander into the sportsground next door (on Sundays, this hosts the city’s largest meet of pigeon fanciers). The site itself is fenced.