Istanbul
The 112-year-old Bolgür Palace, designed by an Italian architect, is now open to the public following extensive restoration work by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.
The building, whose original name was Bolulu Habib Bey Palace and whose project was designed by Italian architect Giulio Mongeri in 1912, was known to the people as Bolgür Palace.
The building was used for a long time as a bank residence and archive and then was completely abandoned.
In 2021, the Istanbul Municipality purchased Bolgür Palace for restoration. After completing the restoration work, the historic building welcomed the residents of Istanbul on February 27, as a cultural and exhibition center for the new generation with its 135-seat library, exhibition hall, restaurant, multi-purpose event areas and gazebo with a unique view of the city. Istanbul.
Speaking at the opening program in front of Bolgur Palace in Istanbul's Fatih district, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu said that preserving history is a crucial indicator of civilization.
Imamoglu stated that protecting history in an ancient city like Istanbul also requires a cautious attitude.
The first cultural activity organized in the historic building located on Koca Mustafa Pasha Hill in Fatih was the “Magnum in Istanbul” exhibition.
The 77th anniversary exhibition of Magnum Photos, one of the world's most respected photography agencies, consists of more than 200 photographs by 70 artists.