Boukoleon Fish Restaurant

If you are a Turkish citizen or hold a residence permit in Turkey, you can join one of the guided tours of the Bukoleon Palace that are organised fairly regularly by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. Registration is done via the Istanbul Senin app, by accessing the “IBB Etkinlik” section, where these guided visits are announced. It is great that the municipality allows Istanbul residents to visit this site, which has unfortunately been closed to the general public for many years. Sadly, according to the information shared during the tour, it is likely to remain closed for some time, as further archaeological work is still required. The guided tour lasts about one hour and is very informative. I highly recommend it to anyone who has the opportunity to join.

Bukoleon Palace Bukoleon Palace is a coastal palace built during the Byzantine period in Istanbul. It was founded in the 5th century, probably during the reign of Justinian I, and expanded by subsequent emperors. It was strategically located on the shores of the Sea of Marmara, connected to the Great Palace complex of Constantinople. It served as a residence and ceremonial site for the emperors, particularly in the 9th and 11th centuries. It is believed to have taken its name from the bull and lion statues in its harbor. It lost its importance after the Latin invasion (1204) and was abandoned during the Ottoman period. Its ruins can be seen today near Çatladıkapı, but it has been largely destroyed. Restoration work is ongoing, and the palace is a significant example of Byzantine architecture.

Old palace built by Theodosius I. Under construction right now, as seen in the photos. Accessing the construction site is strictly prohibited and if you dont want to risk trouble with the local authorities you will adhere to the barbed wire fence. Sadly the reconstruction is severly underfunded and seems to have stalled. Much of the old places elements seem to have been removed. When the archeological work is gonna be completed is intransparent. My thesis would be they dug this up to build a new road on top, for which they had to check the static condition of the ruins.

You can really feel the place somewhat in a run down place next to marmaray train line. worth visiting also little hagia sophia . Nice place for morning hike especially if you stay around.

The location of the ruins is really close to big road and the place is rather quiet not really many people visited this place. The ruins is not a lot but it is still good to visit the place and it is close to my hotel location. The ruins are protected by fences and you can only see it from far. It has sign that explained the ruins and mention the age of the building

A nice backdrop to a meal on the patio at the GLK Sea Mansion. Currently scaffolding is covering a side, hopefully a good restoration is in place. Interesting to see if in the area, but probably not worth a trip in its self.

Still close, still beautiful, I hope one day I can enter.

In total shambles... being completely renovated, surrounded by barriers. There's nothing to see here, keep moving. Maybe in 5 years.

It'll be interesting to see what the final renovation will look like.

Saw in the rain of 19th Nov 2018 on way back form other site closed..nice photo shot in better weather..