Also known as the Apartments of the Crown Princes (Şehzadegân Dairesi), the Twin Pavilions are two interconnected chambers that served as the residence and school for the Ottoman princes. Positioned adjacent to the Privy Chamber of Murad III, this building represents the infamous “cage” (kafes) where the potential heirs to the throne lived in gilded isolation.
Although their exteriors appear unified under a single roof with matching tilework, their interior decorations reveal that they were built in different periods. The first, the Domed Pavilion, dates to the 17th century, while the second was added later. This unique structure housed the young princes, providing them with a rigorous education while simultaneously keeping them sequestered from the world of politics to prevent succession rivalries. It stands as a silent testament to the immense pressures and paradoxes of being an Ottoman prince.