5 Luxury Hotels That Used to Be Notorious Prisons

A welcoming facade; photo: Istanbul at Sultanahmet

1. Istanbul at Sultanahmet, Turkey

Built in: 1918

Opened as a hotel in: 1996

If there’s anything I’m sure of in life it’s that the Four Seasons know how to spruce up an old prison. Although practically indistinguishable from the luxe interiors of the rooms, the hotel’s legacy can still be spotted in the hand-painted tiles, original wooden doors, marble pillars (some featuring inmates’ carvings) and the landscaped courtyard which was once the exercise yard. A stellar example of Turkish neoclassical architecture, couples will love this hotel for its ultimate luxury with fascinating design features unlike anything that could be experienced in the west. 

Coolest fact: When it was in operation, the Sultanahmet housed a number of famous academics, creative types and political opponents including Mihri Belli.

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