Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul is an amazing complex that adorns the magnificent Bosphorus. This beautiful example of the building with all its appearance shows tourists what the palace should look like. Everything in it and around the building is elegant and matches the name. In Turkish, the word "dolmabahçe" means "a full garden." In fact, this palace is replete with oriental luxury and European wealth.
Tourists have their first question when they are in Istanbul: how to get to Dolmabahçe Palace? The practice of travelers who have visited excursions shows that this is not difficult to do. Toward the palace runs the T1 light rail. Its final stop is called "Kabatash". From it the road leads to a mosque, which cannot be seen. Further you can see the gates of the palace. Some people prefer to travel by ferry, sailing to the pier "Kabatash".
There is another option, how to get to Dolmabahce Palace. A funicular runs from Taksim Square , which also has a Kabatash stop. That is, for tourists it is clear that regardless of the chosen route, the final point is a stop or a berth "Kabatash".
The history of the palace
The area of the gulf used by the navy during the reign of Ahmed turned into a garden. Beshiktas Palace was erected on this territory. Due to frequent fires, he had a dilapidated appearance.
Two centuries later, the 31st Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, Abdul-Majid, chooses the site of the destroyed Besiktas for the construction of a large palace complex. His plans included moving the government from Topkapi Palace, which was an imperial residence for four centuries. The brother of Abdul-Majid Abdulaziz became the second ruler who lived in this palace. Sultan Abdul-Hamid II left him and ruled the Ottoman Empire from Yildiz Palace.
The imperial family returned to the Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul during the reign of Mehmed V (1909-1918). It was from here that the last Ottoman sultan
Mehmed VI was exiled to Paris. This event was preceded by the abolition of the Sultanate in 1921 by the Turkish National Assembly. Caliph Abdul-Majit Efendi remained in the palace until the caliphate was abolished in 1924. Some of his own paintings still adorn the walls of the monumental structure today.
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was the first president of the Republic of Turkey. He received foreign guests at the Dolmabahçe Palace during his trips to Istanbul. Between 1927 and 1949, it was used as the presidential office and residence of the new republic. In 1952, restoration work was completed in the palace. After that, the palace of the Ottoman sultans - Dolmabahçe Palace - became a museum.
Since September 2007, it houses the official residence of the Prime Minister. Today you can enter the territory through the gates of the Treasures. In the summer on Tuesdays after lunch, military musicians play in the palace.
Architectural features
Unlike the authentic Ottoman way of life in the Topkapi Palace, the way of the Sultan and his family in the following centuries became European, which was reflected in the built complex. The cost of the residence was very high. Construction began in 1843 by the architect Karapet Balyan, and was completed in 1856 by his son Nigogos Balyan. The Armenian family of Balian was known as the dynasty of architects of the late Ottoman Empire.
The structure of the building was preserved in its original form. The whole complex covers an area of 110 thousand m 2 . On its territory, mixed architectural styles were used: Baroque, Rococo and Neoclassical, which also reflected the traditional Ottoman lifestyle. The three-story structure, including the basement, has two main entrances and five gates on the seashore.
A photo of Dolmabahce Palace is presented a little higher. It is famous for its symmetrical design and decoration. The ceremonial and harem halls of the main building have separate rear gardens, protected by high walls.
Palace complex
The palace complex consists of a group of auxiliary buildings and a walled inner palace along the promenade, which is 700 meters long. One of these buildings is a glass pavilion with a view of the street. It was originally used by the sultans to view military parades and their subjects. The pavilion functioned as the "eye" of the palace to watch the outside world.
There is also a small gallery built in the 19th century for the birds of the Sultan. Separately, there is a plant nursery, small kitchens, apartments of the main eunuch and a carpet workshop.
The Treasury Gate (Khazin Kapi) and the Imperial Gate (Sultanate of Kapi) are the entrances to the administrative buildings. Along the coast there are five large gates for meeting those arriving by water. The tourist entrance to the palace is next to the richly decorated clock tower.
Tourists can see the inside of the palace accompanied by a guide. A full tour of the palace takes 2 hours. However, at one time, travelers will not know the whole history of Dolmabahce Palace. Also, you will not be able to see all the attractions. The doors are closed on Mondays and Thursdays. Opening hours of the Dolmabahçe Palace on the remaining days of the week from 9.00 to 16.00.
Palace Museum
This impressive looking building consists of 285 rooms, 44 small halls, 4 large halls, 5 main stairs and 68 toilets. The total usable area of the three-story building is 45 thousand m 2 . The external walls of the structure are made of stone, and the internal ones are made of bricks. To decorate this unusual and extravagant building, it took 14 tons of gold, 6 tons of silver and 131 units of handmade silk carpets. Furniture and decor were imported from Europe under the leadership of Ambassador to France Ahmed Fethi Pasa. For example, vases from Sevres, silk from Lyons, crystals from Bacarat and candlesticks from the UK, glass from Venice, and chandeliers from Germany.
The palace has an extensive collection of Czech, English and Venetian glass and crystal. The museum houses more than 1000 chairs and couches in different styles brought from Europe. In each of the 285 rooms there are 4 stools and sofas. Some furniture samples were specially ordered for Dolmabahce. Others were received as gifts from China, India and Egypt. These furniture sets are exhibited in rooms decorated with luxuriously painted ceilings and mahogany wood floors. The palace was originally heated with ceramic stoves and fireplaces. Later (between 1910 and 1912), electric and central heating systems were installed.
Administrative part
The main tourist interest is the Dolmabahce Palace Museum, which consists of three main parts: State Apartments, the Ceremonial Hall and the Harem. For the first time in this building, the female and male halves were in the same building. Usually tours of the palace consist of two parts. First, tourists visiting Selamlik - the public wing, and then - the Harem. In the administrative part of the palace, the rooms overlook the coast. Two main halls are located on two floors, connected by a huge staircase in the center.
Passing through the Secret Garden to the large Ceremonial Hall on the ground floor, visitors will not be able to resist the splendor of the jewelry. One of these is a huge Czech crystal chandelier from baccarat for 464 lamps. Its weight is approximately 4.5 tons. Prior to the installation of electrical systems in the palace, the lamps were fed with natural gas. Chandelier - a gift from Queen Victoria. The dome, to which the chandelier itself is attached, has a height of 36 m. The Dolmabahçe Palace has the largest collection of crystal lamps in the world.
The hall also has vases made in Sevres. There are four ceramic fireplaces, one in each corner. Over them hang crystals reflecting different colors every hour of the day. French and Italian specialists were involved in decorating and upholstering the hall. Part of the furniture was imported from abroad, another part of the master was performed on the spot.
Clerk's hall
Next to the Ceremonial in the Dolmabahçe Palace on the Bosphorus side is another impressive hall - the Clerk. It is also called the Secretariat Room or Ceramic Room.
In this room is the largest painting in the palace, painted in 1873 by Italian orientalist Stefano Ussi. It illustrates people traveling to Mecca from Istanbul. This painting was donated by the ruler of Egypt, Ismail Pasha to Sultan Abdulaziz. Ismail Pasha met Ussi at the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 and entrusted him with a task. In addition to her in the palace is a collection of paintings by Aivazovsky. He painted them in Istanbul when he was there as a court painter. Very valuable porcelain vases are also stored here .
The monumental crystal staircase in the center is called the imperial. It connects the second floor. A baroque staircase was completed, and was designed by Nigogos Balyan. Luxuriously decorated, it also reflects the traditional Ottoman style. In her design, crystals from baccarat were used. The symmetrical and elegant design of the halls surrounding the staircase is breathtaking.
Hall of Ambassadors
The most luxurious room in the palace is the Sufer Hall. It is also called embassy. It and the red hall associated with it used to be used for international meetings with ambassadors and foreign diplomats. This room is designed and decorated symmetrically.
In the hall is the second largest chandelier of the Dolmabahce Palace. Museums in the world do not even know examples of such luxury. Its high doors, mirrors and fireplaces are in perfect harmony with delicately decorated ceilings. The ambassadors' hall and the small rooms around it were used to receive and entertain foreign visitors.
The floor is carpeted from Hereke, and its area is 120 m 2 . The red room was used by the sultans to receive ambassadors. The room was named after the dominant shade of the curtains, which is also the color of power. Gold jewelry and red furniture with yellow tints along with a table in the center create a very powerful effect. No walls were built in the room. She was expertly decorated with a real view of Istanbul. The columns hidden behind the curtains are connected by large windows overlooking the Bosphorus.
Harem
The residence, consisting of luxury rooms, covers almost two-thirds of the entire Dolmabahce Palace - Harem. The photo below shows the Blue Hall. In the eastern part of the L-shaped Harem, private retinues of the Sultan, his mother (Valid Sultan) and his family (Harem-i-Hummayn) lived on the embankment. In the apartments on the street were the “favorites” and concubines. According to the architectural plan, this part of the palace is made in neobarochny style. It is decorated with European and traditional Turkish patterns. The harem does not stand in a separate place, but is connected to Selamlik by a long corridor. The interiors of this building are significantly inferior in luxury to the views of Selamlik.
The most interesting parts of the Harem are the Blue Hall (Salon Mavi) and the Pink Hall (Pembe Salon). Also, the attention of tourists is attracted by the apartments of the Sultan, Sultan Abdulaziz, Sultan Mehmed Reshad and Ataturk. The blue room is named because of the color of the furniture and curtains. During religious events, the sultans allowed holidays in these walls for residents of the Harem and other employees of the palace. The pink room is also named due to the shade of the walls. Its windows overlook the Bosphorus. Therefore, it is considered one of the best halls in the palace. In it, the mother of the
Sultan (Valid Sultan) repeatedly received guests. Ataturk also used this room for dating and chatting.
It is worth seeing, while in Istanbul, the summer palace of Beylerbey. This residence was commissioned by the Ottoman Sultan Abdulaziz. Beylerbey - a delightful, richest, imperial residence with a fountain in the main salon. The building has luxurious rooms decorated with Czech crystal chandeliers and Chinese vases. The palace was often used as a guest house for visiting royal and royal families.
Mosque and Clock Museum
The imperial mosque built by the Sultan is located in the southern part of the Dolmabahçe Palace complex in Istanbul. The photo below is a view from the Bosphorus.
Construction was carried out between 1853 and 1855 by the architect Nigogos Balyan. The decoration of the building belongs to the Baroque style. The mosque was used as a naval museum from 1948 to 1962. After restoration in 1966, it was open to visitors. The structure of the mosque underwent a comprehensive restoration in 2007.
Tourists will also be interested in the Dolmabahçe Clock Museum. It is located in the old Inner Treasury building in the harem garden. It features a selection of exclusive handcrafted craftsmanships owned by the National Watch Collection. After eight years of extensive repairs and maintenance, the museum was reopened to visitors in 2010. Today, 71 watches are presented in its walls. At the exhibition you can also see unusual artworks by masters of the Ottoman Empire.
Ataturk's room
The last person who lived and died in the Dolmabahçe Palace in 1938 was Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Ataturk's room where he died was used by the sultans in the winter as a bedroom. This room was saved in its original form. It is decorated with Ataturk's favorite furniture, paintings and watches. The simplicity of his room is quite remarkable. He chose the most ordinary room, when compared with the more luxurious mansions of the palace.
Visitors may notice that all the clocks inside the palace are set at the same time 9:05. It was at nine o’clock and five minutes that Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who is also the founder of the Republic of Turkey, died. To be more precise, he died on November 10, 1938. This date is familiar to all Turkish citizens.