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Built in the mid - 19th
century by Sultan Abdulmecit, it has an impressive 600 meter
frontage on the Bosphorus. The most important parts is the vast
reception salon, with 56 columns, and a huge, 750 bulb, chrystal
chandelier weighing 4.5 tons. The architecture of the Harem is a
stark contrast to that of the rest of the palace. The Bird Pavilion,
where birds from all over the world were kept, is unique to this
palace.
This beautiful Ottoman Palace, magnificently situated at the
European side of the Bosphorus strait, was built by the son of
Mahmut II, Sultan Abdulmecit 1839-1861, who ascended the throne at
the age 16. His decision to have a new fashionable residence similar
to European palaces started the construction of the Dolmabahce
Palace in 1843. After the demolition of the former palace in wood,
the work for the new palace started under architects Garabet and
Nikogos Balyan, members of the famous Balyan family which gave nine
reputed architect to the Ottoman Empire for nearly a century.
Serving under the six sultans, they were responsible for the
westernization of the city's architecture. The construction of the
palace which covers an area of 250.000 square meters, took about 13
years and finished in 1855. Abdulmecit, the first occupant of the
palace, lived there 15 years. Since some of the Sultans didn't show
too much interest to Dolmabahce palace, it stayed empty most of its
time
Dolmabahce Palace consisted of the sultans wing, the festival
greeting hall (also known as the throne hall) and the harem. To
impress foreign ambassadors they were received through the entrance
hall which was decorated with vases from Sevres and Yildiz and led
up stairs with railings made of crystal glass from Venice. Crystal
and silver candle holders, crystal chandeliers, curtains of silk
from Hereke, gilded cornices and silk carpets, rooms decorated with
painting of the Russian artist Aiwazowsky gave everyone the
impression that one was in the residency of a wealthy emperor. The
baroque clock tower and the Dolmabahce Mosque, commissioned by the
mother of Abdulmecit I and built by Sarkis Balyan in 1853, complete
the Dolmabahce Palace complex.
Dolmabahce was the favorite palace of Abdulmecit and Mehmet Resat
who reigned during the first World War. Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the
founder of the Turkish Republic, died in this palace on the 10th of
November, 1938
Open every day except Mondays and Thursdays.
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