PRICE:
Frommer's Highly Recommended

In the 1980s, the State-run Turkish Touring and Automobile Club set off a craze for historic preservation when it restored a handful of clapboard Ottoman mansions on the historic, cobblestoned Sogukçesme Street. Back then, the collection of pension-style rooms saw a veritable stampede of illustrious visitors including Bernardo Bertolucci and Roman Polanski, and in 2000, Sofia, the Queen of Spain. After more than 20 years and commensurate wear and tear (plus a new manager), the pension has grown into its stately skin: Rooms have been restored, preserving the original character. The rooms are not deluxe, but many now benefit from a number of additional comforts (including air-conditioning and TV). The konaklari, or collection of houses, also enjoys one of the city's most characteristic settings, sandwiched between the imperial outer wall of Topkapi Palace and the Ayasofya. The area also encompasses open-air garden and terrace cafes, and an expansive garden that surrounds a wonderful orangerie.

Copyright: Excerpted from Frommer's Istanbul, 1st Edition, (c) 2008, Wiley Publishing, Inc.

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