The Dolmabahce Palace Sarayı Bosphorus Ataturk Sultan Abdulmecid Ottoman
Dolmabahçe Palace was the first European-style palace in Istanbul and was built by Sultan Abdülmecid between 1842 and 1853, at a cost of five million Ottoman gold pounds, the equivalent of 35 tons of gold. Fourteen tons of gold in the form of gold leaf were used to gild the ceilings of the palace. The world's largest Bohemian crystal chandelier, a gift from Queen Victoria, is at the center hall. The chandelier has 750 lamps and weighs tons. Dolmabahçe has the largest collection of Bohemian and Baccarat crystal chandeliers in the world, and one of the great staircases has bannisters of Baccarat crystal. The site of Dolmabahçe was originally a bay in the Bosphorus which was filled gradually during the 18th century to become an imperial garden, much appreciated by the Ottoman sultans; and it is from this garden that the name Dolmabahçe (Filledgarden) comes from, dolma meaning 'filled' and bahçe meaning 'garden'. Various summer palaces were built here during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The palace that stands here today was built between 1842 and 1853 during the reign of Sultan Abdülmecid, on the site of the old coastal palace of Beşiktaş, by the Armenian architects Garabet Amira Balyan and his son Nigoğayos Balyan. The Sultans moved here, since the old Topkapı Palace lacked the modern luxuries that the Dolmabahçe could provide. The palace is composed of three parts; the Mabeyn-i Hümâyûn (or Selamlık, the quarters reserved for the men), Muayede Salonu (the ceremonial halls) and the Harem-i Hümâyûn (the Harem, the apartments of the family of the Sultan). The famous Crystal Staircase has the shape of a double horseshoe and is built of Baccarat crystal, brass and mahogany. The palace includes a large number of Hereke palace carpets made by the Hereke Imperial Factory. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder and first president of Turkey, spent his last years in the palace as his health deteriorated. Atatürk died November 10, 1938
Size: 3608px × 5433px
Location: Istanbul
Photo credit: © Peter Horree / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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