DOLMABAHÇE PALACE

Dolmabahçe means, “Filled garden” and refers to the small harbour, which Sultan Ahmet filled in to built his pleasure palace. After several fires Sultan Abdülmecid (I), who found the old Topkapı Palace old, fashionederected the present palace in the Turkish Renaissance style at the same site 1843-1856.It servers as the official residence of the Sultan’s till 1876. In 1877 Sultan Abdülmecid (II), opened the first Turkish parliament here, which was dissolved two months later. Among other celebrities the French Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon (III), the Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph, the German Emperor Wilhelm (II), English Prince Edward (VIII), the Persian Shah Reza Pahlewi, King Faisal of Iraq and King Emrullah of t Afghanistan, were guests here. The palace is still the scene of important official receptions.

After the empire was terminated in 1923 Atatürk stayed at the palace on his trips to Istanbul. He died here on November 10th 1938 the age of 57.

The palace built according to the plans of the architect “Balien” consist of the three parts: the official building is on the left; the throne hall on the center and the harem is on the right. The 285 rooms and 43 halls, house 280 vases, 156 clocks, 68 crystal candlesticks and 36 chandeliers of Bohemian, Venetian, French and English crystal. 4500sq.m of hand-woven silk “Hereke carpets” cover the marvelous parquets floor of the room. The curtains and the upholstery are also made of sil Hereke fabric.

To furnish the interior and decorate the rooms, 14 tons of gold and 40 tons silver were used. The construction of the palace cost 5 million gold coins, which is now the equivalent of about 500 million US dollars.