Istanbul is a city which is famous for its historical beauties. Beside mosques, museums, avenues, bridges, walls and many other places, it is also worth visiting for its magnificent palaces represented the richness of the culture.
One of the most known palaces is Dolmabahçe Palace which was built in 1856. At that time, Sultan Abdülmecid I and his family lived in Topkapı Palace but later he decided to built a new, luxury and more contemporary palace, because Topkapı was one of the oldest palace with old-fashioned features. The construction of Dolmabahçe Palace cost tonnes of gold, there was a huge burden on the public purse.
Dolmabahçe Palace is located in Beşiktaş, considered as the largest palace in Turkey with its 285 rooms, 6 hamams, 46 halls, 68 toilets located in 45.000 m2 area. Interior and exterior design of the palace represents the combination of Rococo, Baroque, Neoclassical and Ottoman styles of architecture. It was used as a home to 6 sultans and their families. The founder of Turkish Republic, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, used the palace as a presidential residence and spent his last days before died on November 10, 1938. Dolmabahçe Palace is today managed by Directorate of National Palaces. You can check the current opening and closing hours before visit, it is open from Tuesday to Sunday at 9 am and closed at 4 pm, on Mondays the palace is closed to visitors.
Another most known palace is Çırağan Palace (Kempinski), which was built in 1867 during the reign of Sultan Abdülaziz. The outer walls of the palace were made of colored marbles, and the inner walls were made of wood. There was a great fire which destroyed the palace in 1910, and only outer walls left. The place served as a football stadium named ‘Şeref Stadı’ for BJK, and it was bought and renovated as a modern hotel complex in 1989. In 2007, it was renovated again with Baroque style features. Today, it serves as a luxurious hotel, ball room, and to many wedding ceremonies and galas.
Beylerbeyi Palace in Asian side of Bosphorus is another great palace. Beylerbeyi means ‘Lord of the Lords’, built in 1865 during the reign of Sultan Abdülaziz as a resting place and summer residence. It is as large as Dolmabahçe Palace and hosted royal visitors such as the Duchess and Duke of Windsor and Empress Eugenie of France. The place looks magnificent especially from the Bosphorus. There are a large reception hall, pool, fountain, rooms, furnitures, bath pavilions for men and women. It was served as a place of captivity of Sultan Abdülhamid II till his death in 1918. You can check the current opening and closing hours of the palace from its website, it is closed on Mondays and Thursdays. In summer, Beylerbeyi Palace is open at 9 am and closed at 5 pm. In winter, you can visit the place from 9 am to 4.30 pm.
Beside these magnificent palaces, Istanbul has other great palaces like Tekfur Palace, Adile Sultan Palace, Küçüksu Pavilion, Topkapı Palace, Yıldız Palace, Aynalıkavak Pavilion and many others. You will definitely love and be impressed by their beauty and history!
