Dolmabahce Palace, The word "Dolmabahce" in English means "The filled garden". Because the Dolmabahce Palace's founded upon a reclaimed area by filling up the sea. It's a pretty XIX. C. palace right by the Bosphorus, on the waterfront. It's in baroque and rococo style and very French. Many people think that it's a small model of the palace of Versailles in Paris, France. It can be visited with a tour guide of the palace as a group. Open everyday for half past nine to five o'clock except Monday and Thusday.
When an enters the palace area, the I. thing to see is the beautiful French style gardens. After having a lovely walk by the Bosphorus, a reaches the main construction. The palace was constructed for 1842 to 1853 by an of the Ottoman Sultans, Sultan Abdulmecid. The architect was a famous Armenian architect, Nikogos Balyan. The palace reflects the European, more "modern" side of the Ottoman Empire. The Sultans moved to Dolmabahce Palace after its building was finished and nothing went back to Topkapi Palace which hosted them nearly four centuries.
Before an enters into the main palace construction, should wear blue nylons over shoes due to keep the palace clean. After wearing them, a faces with one huge entrance hall with pretty French Baccarat crystal chandelliers. The palace altogether is decorated with French Baccarat and Czech Bohemian crystal chandelliers.The entrance hall is there where the visitors were used to welcomed. It is the official part of the Palace that was only open to the men. The women and their children lived in a different part called "the Harem". The Sultan's bedrooms were also in the Harem Part. The founder of Turkish Republic, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk died in this palace in 1938 of sirosis disease. He actually lived in Ankara, Turkey's capital, but he used to come to Istanbul quite often and Dolmabahce Palace's his residence when he visited Istanbul. His room is also in the Harem Part of the Palace. There’ re many portraits in the palace by famous artists, like Aivazosvky of Russia. It's a very ornate palace with its 285 rooms, 43 large halls and six Turkish baths. The large old carpets on the floor are Hereke Carpets which were exclusively woven for the palaces. Some rooms have a great parquet floor with 3 difference woods inlaid into each other by using no nails. Many of the palace fabrics, the curtains were also coming from Hereke, a small town 50 miles, 70 km. to the east of the Istanbul. The palace fabrics today were replaced by new ones which’ re very similar to the original ones.
Address: Dolmabahce Road, Besiktas / Istanbul / Turkey
Telephone : +90 212 236 90 00 (20 line)
Fax : +90 212 259 32 92