The Rami barracks were originally built outside the Land Walls between 1757 and 1774 as the Askar-ı Mansure-i Muhammediye Kışlası. They were expanded by Sultan Mahmud Ii in 1828-29 and renovated in the reign of Sultan Abdülhamid II in the late 19th century. Serving originally as a barracks for the reformed artillery corps, they later housed a school for military engineers as well. The barracks was seen as one of the last bulwarks for the defence of Constantinople and was one of a group that held this function, including the barracks at Davutpaşa. The Rami barracks were the third largest in the empire after those at Selimiye and Davutpaşa.
During the Crimean War (1853-56), Sultan Abdülmecid used the barracks as his HQ while during the occupation of Constantinople (1918-23) the French posted Algerian troops here. After the founding of the Republic in 1923 the barracks became a base for the new Turkish army but in the 1960s they moved out and for many years they served as a market hall. After extensive renovation, they reopened as a gorgeous library set around a large rectangular courtyard planted with a lawn and dotted with sculptures in 2023. The modern name “Rami Barracks” commemorates the fact that they were built on the farmland of Rami Mehmed Paşa, a grand vizier Under Mustafa II.
Today anyone is welcome to visit the Rami Barracks and there are several small cafes in its grounds. There is not much else to see in the area which is heavily industrialised, however.
The Selimiye Barracks continue in use today while the Davutpaşa Barracks have been converted to house a part of Yıldız Technical University at Esenler.
Transport info
You can easily reach the Rami Barracks on the T4 tram from Topkapı (the area rather than the palace) to the Rami stop. The T1 tram from Sultanahmet intersects with the T4 at Topkapı, making this an easy journey.
