Hotel Yeşil Ev

The Hotel Yeşil Ev (literally: Hotel Green House) is a historic wooden mansion, located in the Sultanahmet neighborhood of Istanbul, Turkey, which is used as a hotel after restoration. The premise is run by the Touring and Automobile Club of Turkey (TTOK).

History

Towards to the end of the 19th century, the four-storey wooden mansion was built for Şükrü Bey, minister of monopoly in the Ottoman government. After the death of the owner, the great house gradually fell into a state of neglect. In 1977, the mansion up for sale, was purchased by the TTOK.^[1]

The old wooden building had to be demolished and rebuilt with the consent of the "Commission for Ancient Monuments", since it was so far beyond repair. The exterior of the house was remade as an exact replica, while the layout with nineteen rooms was carefully preserved.^[1]

The restoration works, initiated by Çelik Gülersoy, the CEO of the TTOK, accomplished by March 1984, and the unique building opened as a hotel named "Yeşil Ev" after its exterior color. Combining historical style with modern standards, it very quickly gained a worldwide reputation and was awarded in 1985 the medal for the year by "Europa Nostra".^[1]

Hotel

Situated between Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, the hotel has an absolutely unrivaled location, and offers guests the warm and friendly atmosphere of an old Istanbul home.^[1]

All of the 18 rooms and one suite^[2] are furnished in the style of a 19th-century winter mansion. With a Turkish bath and its special decoration the Pasha Room of Yesil Ev has a world–wide reputation.^[3]

During the winter time, the indoor restaurant in the lobby with its 19th-century style decoration can serve 80 guests.^[4] The hotel's garden full of colorful flowers, high trees and a charming pool is capable of 200 people in the summer months.^[5]

Notable guests

• President François Mitterrand of France (1981–1995) for his New Year's visit to Turkey in 1992 (second visit in the same year).
• Prince of Belgium (1960)
• Jean-Paul Gaultier, French fashion designer (1952)
• Rudolf Nureyev, Russian ballet dancer (1938–1993)
• Larry King, American television host (1933)
• Rachel Weisz, English film actress (1970)^[6]

See also

• Hotels in Istanbul
• Sultanahmet Jail (Four Seasons Hotel at Sultanahmet)
• Soğukçeşme Street (Hagia Sophia Mansions)

References

Sources

• Gülersoy, Çelik (1999). Yeşil Ev. A Home. Istanbul: TTOK Yayınları. p. 71. ISBN 975-7641-29-4. 

Coordinates: 41°0′23.58″N 28°58′44.40″E / 41.0065500°N 28.9790000°E / 41.0065500; 28.9790000