Rising on the Rumeli shore of the Istanbul Bosphorus, directly beneath the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, the Zeki Pasha Mansion (Zeki Paşa Yalısı) bears witness to the late Ottoman period while harboring a rich story that extends into the post-Republican era. This magnificent five-story structure, built from cut stone, belongs to the group of first-class historic mansions. Partially adorned with ivy on its facade, it is situated on one of the Bosphorus's most valuable points.
The mansion draws attention not only for its architectural and historical significance but also as one of Turkey's most expensive real estate properties. While experts note that similar mansions on the Bosphorus find buyers in the range of 2 to 6 billion Turkish Lira, the Zeki Pasha Mansion is described with phrases like "priceless" or "invaluable."
Construction of the Mansion and Zeki Pasha
The mansion was built by Mustafa Zeki Pasha, the Marshal of the Tophane-i Amire (Imperial Arsenal) and one of Sultan Abdülhamid II's most trusted men, using an imperial favor (ihsan-ı şahane) granted by the Sultan. Its architect was the French-origin Italian Alexandre Vallaury. Vallaury is also the architect of Istanbul's landmark buildings such as the Pera Palace Hotel and the Istanbul Archaeology Museums.
Mustafa Zeki Pasha served as the Müşir (Marshal) of Tophane-i Amire for a full 17 years during the reign of Sultan Abdülhamid II, and subsequently served for 25 years as the Nazır (Director) of the Umum Mekatib-i Askeriye-i Şahane (Imperial Military Schools). He was an enlightened individual who spoke French, English, and German and placed great importance on knowledge and science. He played a significant role in the formation of the Hamidiye Regiments established in 1890. He would spend winters in his mansion in Nişantaşı and summers in this yalı in Rumelihisarı.
After the declaration of the Second Constitutional Era (Meşrutiyet), Zeki Pasha was sent into exile by the Committee of Union and Progress (İttihatçılar) along with Sultan Abdülhamid's close associates. He was first exiled to Büyükada (Princes' Island) and then to the island of Rhodes, spending his final years on Büyükada, where he passed away in 1914.
The Dynasty Era: A Wedding Gift for Sabiha Sultan
After Zeki Pasha's death, the mansion was put up for sale by his heirs. The last Ottoman Sultan, Vahdeddin (Mehmed VI), purchased the mansion for his daughter, Sabiha Sultan, and gave it to her as a wedding gift.
When the Ottoman dynasty was sent into exile in 1924, Sabiha Sultan first went to the city of Nice in France, and later went to Egypt with her husband and children. When permission to return was granted in the 1950s, she returned to Istanbul and passed away in Çengelköy. The Rumelihisarı - Aşiyan Cemetery, located just 100 meters from the mansion where she had stepped into a new life by getting married, became the place where she stepped into eternal life. The three graves right next to hers belong to her daughters: Zehra Hanzade, Necla Hibetullah, and Fatma Neslişah Sultans.
After the dynasty was exiled abroad, the mansion was purchased by Zeki Baştamar, a descendant of Gazi Edhem Pasha, known for his successes in the 1897 Ottoman-Greek War. Today, the mansion belongs to the Baştımar family, originally from Trabzon.
Turkey's Most Expensive Real Estate: Price History and Newspaper Advertisements
The Zeki Pasha Mansion has been put up for sale multiple times over the years and has consistently been shown among Turkey's most expensive residences. Here are the significant dates and price tags from the mansion's sale listings:
2011: First Major Sale Attempt
The mansion was first put up for sale in 2011 with a price tag of 200 million TL. However, since the desired value was not achieved, the sale did not materialize, and the owner abandoned the sale.
2019: 550 Million TL and Among the World's 10 Most Expensive Homes
In October 2019, the mansion was put up for sale again with a price tag of 550 million TL (approximately $95.5 million at the exchange rate of the time). In the news of that period, the mansion was shown as "Turkey's most expensive home" and "among the world's 10 most expensive homes."
Newspaper Report - NTV, October 27, 2019:
"No buyer for the 550 million lira mansion (Zeki Pasha Mansion shown among the world's 10 most expensive homes)"
During the same period, it was stated that there were interested parties from abroad, especially from Gulf countries, but an agreement on price could not be reached. Sinem Ayıkcan Yılmaz, an official from the real estate company responsible for the sale, stated, "There is interest, especially from Gulf countries. The sale has not yet materialized because we couldn't agree on the price."
As a notable detail, it was calculated that if the mansion were sold and registered at this price, an annual property tax of 5.5 million TL would be payable.
2025: Valued in the Range of 2-6 Billion TL
In November 2025, the news that the mansion was put up for sale again received wide coverage in the press. This time, while experts noted that similar mansions on the Bosphorus were listed at prices ranging from 2 to 6 billion TL, they emphasized that it was difficult to assign a definitive value to the Zeki Pasha Mansion.
Newspaper Report - Gazete Oksijen, November 22, 2025:
"130-year-old Zeki Pasha Mansion put up for sale; the historic mansion, one of the Bosphorus's most magnificent structures, has once again become the focus of the luxury real estate market with its location and architecture."
Late 2025: 10 Billion TL (Approximately $232 Million)
Towards the end of the year, it was observed that the mansion's price was listed as 10 billion TL (approximately $232 million) on some international real estate platforms. With this price, the Zeki Pasha Mansion has solidified its title as Turkey's most expensive residence.
Arabic and English Brochure Printed for the Mansion
A remarkable marketing strategy was employed to increase interest in the sale of the mansion. When the mansion was put up for sale for 650 million lira in 1981, Arabic and English brochures were printed to announce the sale to Arab countries. This demonstrates the considerable effort made to attract the attention of international investors.
Price Comparison Over the Years
| Year | Price (TL) | Approx. USD Equivalent | Source |
|------|------------|------------------------|--------|
| 1981 | 650 million (old TL) | - | |
| 2011 | 200 million | - | |
| 2019 | 550 million | $95.5 million | |
| 2025 | 2-6 billion (est.) | $47-141 million | |
| 2025 | 10 billion (listing) | $232 million | |
CNN Türk correspondent Sinan Ağca likened the mansion to the "Kaşıkçı Diamond," stating: "We say the Kaşıkçı Diamond is one of the world's most valuable jewels. This structure is akin to a similar one among those jewels."
Architectural Features
The Zeki Pasha Mansion is an extremely high-quality example of its period, both in its plan scheme and its details:
- Number of Floors: 5 floors (including basement)
- Number of Rooms: 23 rooms, 5 salons, 8 bathrooms
- Land Area: 4,032 square meters of garden
- Enclosed Area: 2,489 square meters
- Pier Length: 110 meters
In front of the mansion, there is a stone pier built on rocks on the sea. The structure has one entrance on the sea side and one on the garden side. In the garden, there is a marble public fountain (sebil) with eight basins and a pool. Two tall garden gates opening to the street possess a remarkably striking aesthetic.
On both sides of the service annex (mabeyn) that extends perpendicular to the sea, there are large salons and rooms. This layout is repeated identically on every floor. Access to the upper floors is provided by a staircase placed in a bay window on the west facade of the building.
On each floor, there are 6 rooms, 5 of which have a direct view of the Bosphorus. Floor heights vary between 3 and 4.5 meters.
The ground floor of the mansion, including its flooring, has preserved its original state to the present day without any alterations. In this mansion, where the window styles of each floor differ from one another, the painting depicting Gazi Edhem Pasha still remains.
The Mansion Today
As of 2025, the mansion is still for sale, and negotiations are being conducted through a private real estate company. Belonging to the Baştımar family from Trabzon, the structure is associated with its most well-known heir, Meliha Baştımar.
Unlike other mansions on the Bosphorus, the fact that it was built of masonry (stone) has prevented the mansion from being damaged by disasters such as fires and has allowed it to retain its original texture to the present day. With this feature, the Zeki Pasha Mansion gives the impression of a "seaside palace" or "château" rather than merely a "yalı."
