The Hidiv (Khedive) Kasrı was built by Delfo Seminati, an Italian Architect, on the ridge of coppice forest of Çubuklu, Istanbul in 1907. It covers a total area of 1000 square meters and is in an “art-nouveau” style. When Egypt gained its independence from the Ottoman Empire, Abbas Hilmi Paşa, (the khedive of Egypt), the last Ottoman governor of Egypt, was dismissed from his position as khedive after an interview with Sultan Mehmet Reşat V., the 35th Ottoman Sultan and the son of Sultan Abdülmecid. Abbas Hilmi Paşa then settled in the Hidiv Kasrı with his family in Istanbul.
In the center of the main entrance of the Hidiv Kasrı, there is a marble fountain. Connections among pavilion’s hall draws a circle around the pool and the circle is only being cut (stop) in the entrance hall. The ceiling of Kasır is covered by stained glass.
The two large bedrooms have panelled walls, inner toilets, and bathrooms placed on the entrance floor. The circle-line shaped section of the hall and fireplace on this floor draw the attention of visitors. In additon, visitors can view a portion of the Bosphorus from the pavilions watchtower. The tower is the most popular section of the kiosk because of its view over the Bosphorus. One can access the terrace either by an elavator or by stairs.
After the Khedive of Egypt left Istanbul in the 1930s, Hidiv Kasrı was purchased by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. However, it was rarely used between the years of 1937 and 1982 but was used as a movie set at times. However, movie makers were very inconsiderate to the pavilion, as they broke the stained glass windows in an attempt make more light for their movies. The restoration process was started by the Touring and Automobile Association of Turkey (TURING) in 1982. After two years of restoration works, the Hidiv Kasrı was reopened in 1984 as a hotel, restaurant, and cafeteria.
