Konstantiniyye Oteli

As Zülfü Livaneli delves into the depths of Istanbul with a rich panorama of people, he takes the reader on an extraordinary journey, introducing him to the magical, yet brutal atmosphere of the city.

The last days of December 2014... The opening day of the seven-star Konstantiniyye Hotel and an early New Year's celebration... Distinguished and prominent figures of Istanbul come together at the hotel built on the ruins of the old Byzantine palace in Sultanahmet. Who among them is not there? Politicians, mayors, American ambassador, Fener Greek patriarch, famous journalists, newspaper bosses, television "stars", old and new rich people, big businessmen...

Even though Istanbul's dead, who have been buried underground for hundreds of years, were not invited to the invitation, they see no harm in appearing on the surface and join this party. And of course, the indispensable employees of a hotel, waiters, bellboys, security guards…

In short, Konstantiniyye Hotel actually appears before us as a huge city that is thousands of years old. A city that changes and transforms, but the violence it contains somehow remains the same...
(From the Promotional Bulletin)