Palaces for the winged inhabitants of the Ottoman Empire (17 photos + 1 video)

These ornate miniature mansions are not immediately apparent. You have to look up and tilt your head while walking the streets of Istanbul to see the palaces that were once built for the city's feathered inhabitants.





The tiny but graceful and intricately carved palaces on the side walls of mosques and schools are home to local birds. For centuries, the vocal residents have called these luxurious structures their home.



Of course, people were building birdhouses long before the rise of the Ottoman Empire. Before that, birdhouses were as simple as possible. What the Ottomans created were not just ordinary structures, but complex multi-level houses with numerous decorations and many details. With intricate windows, balconies, roofs and turrets, they imitated luxurious dwellings worthy of royalty.





The creation of small bird palaces went beyond purely aesthetic appeal. It was believed that building houses and showing such kindness to the feathered inhabitants of the city was also a way to gain the favor of higher powers. In addition, such structures did not allow birds to nest inside buildings and got rid of garbage, dirt and possible diseases.



Not many of these bird palaces have survived to this day, but they can be found in almost every city in Turkey. Many of them have survived in Istanbul. The oldest one is on the side of the Buyukcekmece Bridge, not far from the city.



Of course, the little masterpieces have become weathered and weathered over time, but some of them still boast fantastic details that make them so intriguing.