Camondo Family was a prominent Jewish family in Istanbul. They were a Sephardic Jewish family who had to flee the Spanish Decree in 1492. The family had originally moved to Venice and then to Constantinople in 1796. The family flourished as a merchant family in Galata and branched into finance founding their own banks in 1802. The family became the prime banker of the Ottoman Empire after 1832.
Abraham Salomon Camondo (1781-1873) who is the only member of the Camondo Family buried in Istanbul. The name Camondo comes from Casa de Mondo in Spanish meaning the ‘house of the world’
The family had many estates round the city as well as Camondo stairs that were a ‘gift’ to Istanbul connecting Galata to ‘Street of the Banks’ in Karakoy. The stairs were constructed in 1850s by Abraham Camondo for his grandchildren that were studying at the Austrian High School in order to prevent them from getting tired and to shorten the distance from their home to school. The Camondo Stairs still live with us as a reminder of this Ottoman Jewish family.
Camondo Stairs constructed in 1850s
Famous French photographer Henry Cartier Bresson had photographed the Camondo Stairs in 1964
Irène Cohen d’Anvers -who was to marry Moise Camondo- was portrayed by Renoir in 1880 when she was a young girl. This little girl was to become Nissim Camondo’s mother.
The members of the family moved to Paris in 1870 after which tragic incidents followed. Nissim de Camondo died in an aerial combat in 1917 in World War I. His father died in 1935. His sister Beatrice de Camondo along with her two children and her ex-husband were deported and murdered in Auschwitz concentration camp around 1944 during World War II. So was the tragic end of an Ottoman Jewish family.
Nissim Camondo with his father Moise Camondo in Paris
Fanny Reinach – granddaughter of Moise Camondo was murdered in Auschwitz at the age of 23
Fanny Reinach’s younger brother Bertnard was just 20 years old when he was murdered by the Nazis.
If you are interested in this Ottoman Jewish family’s life and art collections in Paris, considering reading ‘Letters to Camondo’ by Edmund de Waal. Waal is a well known British ceramics artist who was invited to make an exhibition at the Camondo House. The exhibition took place in autumn 2022. He wrote fifty imaginary letters to Moise de Camondo which are personal reflections of the artistic sensitivities, the life and the tragic end of the Camondo Family.
Family’s Mansion in Paris is now a Museum. The family is defined as one of the best collectors of 18th Century French art and the Museum is a secret gem in Paris.
Nissim de Camondo Museum’s courtyard
A View of the Museum from the Garden Which was the Home of Camondos
Nissim de Camondo Museum in Paris
The family’s many estates in Istanbul still live with us because they have been turned into hotels.
Adahan DeCamondo Pera Hotel
Adahan DeCamondo Interior
Adahan DeCamondo Pera Hotel rooftop view
One of the real estates of the Camondo Family was turned into Adahan DeCamondo Pera Hotel. The walls on the staircase in the entrance are full of Camondo Family’s photos. The Hotel has a lovely rooftop restaurant and a terrace overlooking the Golden Horn.
DeCamondo Galata
And another real estate of the family was also turned into hotel called DeCamondo Galata.
So when you visit Istanbul, don’t forget to pay a tribute to this old Istanbul family by taking their stairs and savouring a drink in the hotels in buildings that once belonged to them.
Visit the hotels at https://www.decamondo.com/hotels/
I have always been struck by the tragic end of this family as a horrific twist of fate. Let them rest in peace.
Coat of Arms of the Camondo Famliy
