Tekfur Palace Museum
It existed for a long time as a part of the imperial palace Blahernai, which was used by the Byzantine emperors from the 12th century. It is not known exactly when and by whom the palace was built. The building was called the Palace of Constantine (Palatium Constantini) by Europeans in the 16th century, then the Palace of Porphyrogenetos. The historical building, which is under the protection of the city bastions in a position dominating its surroundings, was also described as a "High Palace" in ancient sources.
Tekfur Palace was among the palaces used by the emperors in the last glorious period of the Byzantine palaces. It was ideally located to protect the emperors against a possible rebellion. During the 57-year Latin invasion of Istanbul, Tekfur Palace and almost all of the other imperial structures around it were destroyed. Even the lead on the roofs of the buildings was melted down and sold to Venetian merchants.
