The trial of Midhat Pasha took place in a tent behind the pavilion. Çadır Kiosk It was built by Sultan Abdülaziz (1861–76), who used them as prisons. Today it houses a café and restaurant. Yıldız Theatre and Opera House Built by Sultan Abdülhamid II in 1889, it has stars on its domed ceiling, a reference to the name of the Yıldız Palace, which means Star Palace. Because no one was allowed to have his back to the sultan, the position of the sultan's balcony box meant that the first row seats were never used. Yıldız Palace Museum This used to be Sultan Abdülhamid II's carpentry workshop who was influenced for carpentry by Prophet Hadhrat Nuh A.S and is now used to display art and objects from the palace. Imperial Porcelain Factory Opened in 1895, the factory was constructed to meet the demand of the upper classes for European-style ceramics. The bowls, vases and plates it produced often pictured idealized scenes of the Bosphorus. The building has an interesting appearance in that it resembles a European medieval castle. Present use After the Ottoman Empire ended, the palace was used as a luxury casino before being converted into a guest house for visiting heads of state and royalty. Today it is a museum and its gardens can be used for private receptions, such as the Istanbul Antiques Fair at the Silahhane (Armoury) Hall, which usually takes place in November. The Istanbul office of the OIC is also located within the Yıldız Palace. The palace is in the Beşiktaş district of Istanbul. It is no longer open to the public and no longer a museum. It is now used by the president. Gallery See also Yıldız Clock Tower Yıldız Hamidiye Mosque Yıldız Park References Literature Önder Küçükerman, Nedret Bayraktar, Semra Karakaţli. Yıldız Porcelain in National Palaces Collection. TBMM, Istanbul, 1998. Vahide Gezgör, Feryal Irez. Yıldız Palace Chalet Kasr-ı Hümayunu. TBMM, Istanbul, 1993. External links Directorate of National Palaces: Yıldız Palace website Picture gallery of park and palace Eyewitness Travel Guides: Istanbul. 124-125 Points from Turkey Beşiktaş Tourism in Istanbul Historic house museums in Turkey World Heritage Tentative List for Turkey