Did you know this... about Istanbul?

Wooden Mansions (Yalı) of Bosphorus

The Bosphorus Yalıs are elegant wooden mansions that sit beside the water, as in Turkish, the word Yalı refers to a waterside house, those mansions are called ‘yalı’s.

The first yalıs were built in the early 18th century, during the Tulip Era of Ottoman Empire. As part of Istanbul, yalıs are not only famous with their lovely wooden architecture, they all have a different history and hold interesting past.

As many yalıs are located at Vaniköy, Kandilli, Kanlıca and Arnavutköy; Yeniköy retains the largest number of yalıs alongside the Bosphorus. 

Most are hidden from casual sighters behind walls, the best way to see them is from a boat on the Bosphorus. When visiting Istanbul, take a boat tour on the Bosphorus and you will spot many of them.