Silivri: Museum, Ottoman Architecture and Yogurt History

Silivri offers several clearly distinct historical themes to help you plan your trip: the Mübadele Museum House, Ottoman architecture and a long history of yogurt. If you are looking for a hotel in Silivri, these themes can help you choose a destination based on your own interests. They range from historic Silivri, also known as Selymbria, and the population exchange to yogurt production, for which dedicated buildings were constructed in the 19th century.

The Museum and the History of the Population Exchange

The Mübadele Museum House presents Silivri’s local history and the culture of the population groups who came to Silivri as part of the population exchange. This focus brings together local history and the culture of these groups. The Gülcemal (1911–1950), featuring original photographs, is in the lower exhibition hall. The ship symbolizes the migrants’ hopeful journey and reunion. In this way, a major historical theme is brought to life through a tangible object and its symbolism.

The museum is open daily from 10:00 to 19:00, except Mondays; admission is free. Check the current opening hours again before your trip.

The Mimar Sinan Bridge

The Mimar Sinan Bridge is an Ottoman bridge dating from the 16th century. It is also known as the Sultan Süleyman Bridge and the Silivri Bridge; all three names refer to the same structure. Another chapter in its history is its restoration: on October 18, 2021, the bridge was opened for public use through the cooperation of the Turkish Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, the Istanbul Provincial Administration and Silivri Municipality. This structure therefore brings together its 16th-century origins and a later, precisely dated restoration and opening for public use.

Historic Silivri and the Landscape

Historic Silivri, also known as Selymbria, was founded east of the bay, beside the present-day town, on a steep and rugged hill 56 meters high, overlooking the Sea of Marmara. Its elevation and sea view connect this historical description of the town with the surrounding landscape. If you are interested not only in buildings but also in a destination’s historical topography, this site of the town’s founding offers another way to explore Silivri.

Buildings and Their Different Forms

At Selymbria Castle, the terrain takes center stage: its southern side drops toward the sea as a steep, rocky slope, while the other three sides are enclosed by walls. A cistern is located in Silivri Castle Park. The Piri Mehmet Pasha Mosque in Silivri is a 16th-century Ottoman mosque and is associated with the architectural works of Mimar Sinan. The bridge and the mosque share their Ottoman heritage; the castle and the cistern broaden the picture to include other forms of architecture. This allows you to distinguish between different kinds of structures as you explore Silivri’s history, rather than assigning every site the same historical role.

Yogurt and Local History

Silivri’s food history encompasses more than yogurt production. During the Ottoman period, Silivri supplied Istanbul with fruit and vegetables. The town is particularly well known in Turkey for its yogurt production. In the 1870s, buildings called yoğurthane were constructed specifically for its production. The history of yogurt can therefore be understood through both the product and the purpose-built production buildings. Supply, renown and production each offer a different historical perspective on the subject. If you are also interested in a destination’s food history when choosing where to travel, Silivri’s yogurt tradition offers a specific focus.

More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Şile, Işıklar, Doğancılı, Örnekköy, Maslak, Başakşehir, Yayla, Şişli.

For the main travel overview: Istanbul.