5 beautiful buildings by Italian architect Giulio Mongeri in Istanbul

Once the Ottoman Empire’s grand banking district, nowadays the Karaköy area is a jumble of historic structures and newer constructions. Built in 1920, the beautiful Karaköy Palas is a testament to the past having once housed the Banco di Roma and Banca Commerciale Italiana.

A fantastic structure of the First National Architectural Movement hidden in the midst of Şişli’s high-rise offices and hotels, this Mongeri beauty stands out with its large domed tower and shining blue tiled panels. Built in 1925 and since fully restored, the former headquarters of Bozlu Holding now serves as the Bozlu Art Project art gallery.

The prominent Levantine-Italian architect Giulio Mongeri worked on this splendid brick palace in 1912 for Mehmet Habib Bey who made a fortune selling bulgur (cracked wheat), hence the name. A fantastic example of the First National Architectural Movement, the palace’s giant tower is especially imposing.

Hiding in plain sight, the largest Roman Catholic Church in Istanbul is a beautiful vision of red brick and stone with vaulted ceilings in sky-blue. Built in 1906 by Giulio Mongeri and Edoardo de Nani, the Gothic-style church holds mass in different languages throughout the week.

Built in 1922 by Mongeri, this grandiose art deco structure was home to the Italian diplomats of the time. Nowadays, you’ll have to book a room at the very chic Park Hyatt Istanbul in order to inspect the interior, or visit the boutiques on street level including Emporio Armani and Gucci.