Surprisingly, Dolmabahce Palace, in literally built on the water of the bay - once this territory was washed by the waves of the Bosphorus. To make any construction possible, it was necessary to build a huge embankment, which, in fact, was done back in the 17th century. That is why the palace bears the name, which in translation sounds like "bulk garden".
The earth shaft was intended for the construction of Besiktash, which was built in the same century from wood. Of course, the fragile material gradually collapsed, and the building was wiped off the face of the earth by time. Sultan Abdul-Majid only came to the idea of reclaiming undeveloped fill-up lands after 2 centuries.
The palace complex includes Dolmabahce Palace, a mosque and a clock tower, a clock museum and a museum of painting and sculpture.
Dolmabahce Palace, 1918
The construction of the Dolmabahce Palace dates back to the 19th century. The initiator of the construction was the padishah Abdul-Majid (Abdülmecit). The capricious sultan found the Topkapi palace architecture too boring and ordinary, and he decided to erect a luxurious structure that could compete in beauty and grandeur with famous European counterparts, such as Palace of Versailles in France.
Literally translated into Russian, Dolmabahce means "bulk garden". The project of the building belongs to the talented Turkish architect Karapet Balyan, who was born in Armenia. The territory reclaimed near the Bosphorus Bay was chosen for the construction. A long period Dolmabahce was considered the main residence of the Turkish sultans. When Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish Republic, departed to another world, the palace halls were empty, and later they were turned into a beautiful museum complex.
Sultan Abdul-Majid
The idea to build a luxurious palace was fully implemented. The palace walls stretched along the coast of the bay for as much as 600 meters, and a gorgeous park was laid out in front of the central facade.
The interior of the palace is striking in its luxury. On its territory there are 285 rooms and 43 large halls, richly decorated with gold, gems, carvings, and stucco moldings. Once the legends about the wealth of the palace went far beyond the borders of the Ottoman state!
Historical documents say that over 15,000 kg of pure gold and 40,000 kg of silver were spent on the construction and improvement of the palace interior. It is known that once the guest of honor of the palace was Queen Victoria, who presented the padishah with a gorgeous gift - an amazing chandelier. Today it can be seen by all visitors. large hall ceremonies.
Dolmabahce Palace is conventionally divided into two main zones. One part - the public one - is intended for celebrations, meetings, official receptions, etc. The other part - the residential one - was given to the full disposal of the Sultan's harem.
The large palace tourist complex-museum Dolmabahce includes the so-called State Apartments, which offer views of the Bosphorus coast. This part of the palace consists of two tiers, united by a wide flight of stairs.
Of course, no palace could do without its own kitchen and cooks. Interestingly, there was no kitchen area in Dolmabahce itself: a special building was erected at a distance from the main building, across the road. This was not done by chance: it was assumed that the aromas of the dishes served to the padishah's table would distract from the state affairs taking place in the public zone.
The modern museum exposition of Dolmabahce has thousands of rare exhibits, including a bearskin sent to the padishah from Russia. Initially, the skin was white, but the palace decided to radically change its shade to black. This was done for practical reasons: there was no noticeable contamination on the interior item.
Dolmabahce Museum Art Collection
Of particular interest to visitors museum complex calls up art collection. Among the numerous paintings there is a whole collection of works by Ivan Aivazovsky, a Russian marine painter. The ruler of the Empire liked the work of Aivazovsky so much that he ordered paintings from the talented artist with views of the Bosphorus, of which today there are 40 copies in the collection. You can admire them in the "Treasury of the Palace" hall.
Another exhibition dedicated to the life of the palace inhabitants is located in the Salon of Precious Things hall. The personal belongings of the nobility who lived in Dolmabahce, made of precious metals and stones, are exhibited here.
But most of all tourists are attracted by a tour of the harem. Inspection of the "women's" premises and the private chambers of the Sultan is a real pleasure! The harem also has two main zones: the first is for organizing ceremonial receptions (Blue Hall), the second is for the merry pastime of the Sultan's concubines and wives.
Palace complex
Dolmabahce Palace - a huge complex
Dolmabahce is a full-fledged complex, which includes a large number of additional buildings, united into a group by one common wall.
Dolmabahce Palace, as already mentioned, consists of two main parts and a Ceremonial Hall:
- Mabeyn-i Hümayun is the official part or Selamlık
- Harem-i Hümayun - family part or Harem
- Muayede Salonu - Ceremonial, party hall (Tören Salonu)
To enter the central administrative buildings, you need to go through the gate. There are two main entrance gates - the Imperial Gates and the Treasury Gates. There are 5 more gates along the coast for those who arrive at the palace by water. A full-fledged tour of the palace territory, accompanied by a guide, lasts about 2 hours.
Imperial gate
One of the most interesting buildings is considered to be the glass pavilion, which offers stunning views of the local nature. Once upon a time, the Ottoman padishahs watched from this point of the military parades and the life of the palace in general.
For tourists, the Pavilion opens its doors along with the palace. To get into it, you need to go to the near corner of the park area, located on the left.
Glass pavilion in Dolmabahce Palace
The building breathes with lightness and airiness, because the rays of the sun penetrate through the ceiling and walls. Such impressions are achieved not only due to the transparency of the glass, but also due to the large number of crystal lamps and chandeliers.
Another interesting outbuilding of the 19th century is the bird gallery, which was built especially for the Sultan's feathered pets. Nearby there is a pavilion with different kinds plants, the chief eunuch's room, a kitchen area, and a carpet workshop.
The area of Dolmabahce is 45,000 square meters. m. Here, in addition to luxurious rooms and halls, there are 5 main stairwells and as many as 68 toilets! On the street side are lined stone walls and the inner part of the structure is made of bricks. In addition to several tons of gold and silver, 131 silk carpets were woven to decorate the palace interior. The furnishings are mostly European. Their delivery was supervised by the French ambassador Ahmed Fethi Paz. For example, flowerpots were brought from Sevres, silk fabric from Lyon, candlesticks from England, Venetian glass, German chandeliers.
The museum has an impressive collection of crystal from all over Europe. Over a thousand chairs, sofas and couches have been preserved here. Some of the furnishings are custom-made, others are donations from Indian, Chinese, Egyptian and other ambassadors.
To maintain a comfortable temperature in the rooms, they first used ceramic slabs and fireplaces. At the beginning of the 20th century, they were replaced by more modern heating systems.
Ceremonial Hall (Muayede Salonu)
Hall of ceremonies
This sumptuous hall was intended for the Sultan's audiences and ceremonies.
It is in this room, from a height of 36 meters, that the largest and heaviest chandelier in the world hangs, which was donated by Queen Victoria in 1853. The chandelier is truly beautiful: it weighs over 4.5 tons. Candlesticks are installed along the entire perimeter of the interior decoration made of Bohemian glass, the total number of which is 750!
The floor of the Ceremonial Hall is decorated with the largest carpet in Turkey, with an area of 124 square meters.
Adjacent to the ceremony hall (Muayede Salonu or Tören Salonu) is another hall that cannot be overlooked. The Clerk's Room has several names, among which the Secretariat Hall or the Ceramic Room is the most famous. This room is famous for the fact that it houses the largest work of fiction in the entire palace there is a painting dating from the early 70s of the 18th century. The author of this masterpiece is the Eastern explorer from Italy Stefano Ussi. The canvas depicts a pilgrimage of people from Istanbul to Mecca. It is known that the Turkish padishah received the painting as a gift from the Egyptian head of state Ismail Pasha.
Imperial Staircase in Dolmabahce Palace
The first floor of the palace is connected to the second by a massive staircase, the railings of which are made of crystal. The staircase is called the Imperial one. Stylistically, it belongs to the baroque direction. The designer was Nigogos Balyan. Baccarat crystals were used to decorate the stairs. The beauty of the interior design of the main palace halls takes your breath away!
Hall of Ambassadors (Süfera Salonu)
Süfera Salonu
Another palace room, the Sufer Hall, is striking in its originality and luxury. This territory was once given away for holding meetings and negotiations with ambassadors from different states, as well as the neighboring Red Hall. It was also often visited by foreign delegations. In these premises, not only were diplomats received, but also entertainment events were held for them. The Hereke carpet is used as a floor covering in the hall of ambassadors, the size of which is amazing. The total coverage area is 120 sq. m.
The name of the Red Hall is no coincidence. The main shade of the interior here was precisely deep red, especially in textiles. This color symbolized the power of the Ottoman Empire. It is interesting that there are no real solid walls in the hall; they are replaced by thick burgundy curtains. The main decoration of the room is a real picture of Istanbul, which opens before visitors through wide window openings.
Harem
Harem
2/3 of the Dolmabahce palace territory was given under the Harem. The apartments on the east side (on the coast) were completely given over to the needs of the Sultan's mother and members of the ruling dynasty. The padishah's concubines, including the "favorites", lived in the street rooms. This area is all painted with magnificent ornaments in the traditions of Turkey and Europe. The harem communicates with Selamlik through a spacious, long corridor. The most interesting for the guests of the palace are two harem halls - Blue and Pink. The first received this name because of the sky color prevailing in the interior and textiles. On the days of religious festivities, luxurious celebrations were held here. The Pink Hall also got its name from the color scheme of the walls. From the window openings of this room, the breathtaking landscapes of the Bosphorus are perfectly visible. Here Valide-Sultan welcomed visitors, and these apartments were also used for private conversations and acquaintances.
Ataturk's room (Atatürk'ün odası)
The last "owner" of the Dolmabahce palace complex is Kemal Ataturk. As president, Ataturk first visited Dolmabahce Palace on July 1, 1927. The hall, which was chosen by Atatürk as his permanent residence, was once used by the Ottoman padishahs as a winter bedroom.
The interior of Ataturk's room has come down to us unchanged, including decorations and furnishings. It is noteworthy that there is neither luxury nor chic here. Everything is very simple and strict. Travelers coming to Dolmabahce are interested in the same question: why do all the palace clock mechanisms show the same time - 9:05? And the answer to it is very simple: it was at this time on November 10, 1938 that the legendary Mustafa Kemal Ataturk passed away.
Ataturk's office in Dolmabahce Palace
In the period from 1927 to 1938, he came to Istanbul 31 times and not only stayed here, but also used the premises of the Palace for work, business meetings and negotiations with foreign guests, among which were:
- In 1928, the Afghan king Amanullah Han (Emanullah Han),
- In 1931, the Japanese heir to the throne Takamutsu
- In 1932 the Iranian king Faysal,
- In 1932, former French Prime Minister Edouard Herriot, Chief of the American General Staff Douglas Mac Arthur, as well as King Alexander of Yugoslavia and many others.
Thus, during the reign of Ataturk, Dolmabahce Palace became primarily a place for official meetings and events that benefit the country, and only secondarily it was a unique historical site.
Dolmabahçe Mosque (Dolmabahçe Camii)
A little to the south of the beautiful Istanbul Dolmabahce Palace, the mosque of the same name is comfortably located. The building was designed by the famous architect Carpet Balyan. The construction of the shrine started in 1853. It was initiated by Bezm-i-Alem, the mother of the padishah Abdul-Majid the First. It is for this reason that the building is also called the Bezm-i-Alem mosque. Unfortunately, Valide Sultan did not live to see the completion of the project, and her work was continued and completed by her son.
Dolmabahce is a beautiful mosque with baroque decor. Its lush, even slightly pompous interior is more reminiscent of palace halls for ceremonial receptions. The most memorable detail of the mosque, which makes it unique and unique, is the huge arched window openings. The base of the structure is square. The length of one wall is 25 meters.
There is only one dome, and, according to tradition, there are two minarets, and each of them has its own balcony. Due to the fact that the Bezm-i-Alem mosque became part of a full-fledged palace complex, it was decided to add a maksura to it - a two-tiered extension designed for the prayers of the padishah. The security of the ruler was ensured by a closed balcony. The decor of the room combined the Empire and Baroque styles.
The mihram and mimbar of the shrine are distinguished by their bright red porphyry coating.
For some time, the religious monastery housed a museum exposition dedicated to the naval affairs. During this period, the building suffered significant damage. Then the mosque was rebuilt and it reopened the doors to the faithful. The last restoration of the building took place at the beginning of the 21st century.
Dolmabahçe clock tower (Dolmabahçe saat kulesi)
On the way to the Dolmabahce Mosque, you can look into the clock tower, which was ordered to be erected by the ruler Abdul-Hamid II. Its construction was carried out in the period from 1890 to 1895. Sarkis Balyan was invited as an architect, who chose the Ottoman neo-baroque style for his creation. The tower is comfortably located in a small garden behind Dolmabahce, not far from Hazine Kapısı (Gate of Treasures), which gives access to the palace
Tugra, the monogram of Padishah Abdul-Hamid II, applied on both sides of the building, is used as a decoration for the tower. The clock for the tower is made to order by French craftsmen from the workshop of Jean Paul Garnier. The clockwork was installed and started by Johann Mayer. Over time, the mechanism, of course, began to malfunction, and in the 80s of the 20th century it was decided to modernize it using modern electronics.
Clock Museum (Saat Müzesi)
Exhibits of the Dolmabahce Clock Museum
Dolmabahce's guests are greatly interested in the Clock Museum, which is located on the garden territory of the palace Harem. The building houses a chic exhibition of exclusive jewelry belonging to the National Watch Collection. The exposition of watch movements consists of 71 exhibits. In addition to them, the museum contains interesting handmade items created by eminent Turkish masters.
Museum of Painting and Sculpture (Resimve Heykel Müzesi)
Exhibits of the Museum of Painting in Dolmabahce
In the Dolmabahce Palace, as many as 20 luxurious rooms are given over to the exhibition of the greatest examples of painting and sculpture. This complex was opened at the end of the 30s of the 20th century, and currently the exposition has over 3000 exhibits. Today, the halls are being actively reconstructed, but there is talk that the museum may be moved to another building.
Opening hours and cost of attendance
Dolmabahce Palace is open to the public on weekdays, closed on Mondays and during the early days of traditional holidays.
Opening hours - from 9 o'clock to 17 o'clock.
Since the museum has a visiting quota of 3,000 people a day, it is worth coming on an excursion in the morning to get on an excursion. The last group of the day with a guided tour leaves at 15:30.
Tours are held only with a guide (it is forbidden to move around the palace on your own) in English or Turkish, information booklets can be found in Russian. A new excursion group departs every 15-20 minutes.
The cost of visiting Dolmabahce Palace:
- Full excursion Selamlık - Harem - mosque - clock museum - 90 lira
- Full excursion Selamlık - 60 liras
- Harem, mosque and clock museum - 40 lire
- Collection Museum - 20 lire
You can take an audio guide - you will need to leave your passport (or $ 100) as a deposit, the rental of the audio guide itself is free.
Ticket offices are located next to the entrance where the Clock Tower is.
Museum opening hours and cost of admission may vary slightly according to the season.
Excursion routes of the Dolmabahce Palace Museum
The decoration of the Dolmabahce halls amazes with splendor
In total, there are two main excursion routes, for each of which you can purchase separate tickets or buy a single ticket for a full route.
The first Selamlık route (Selamlik is the official part of the palace) - involves a tour of the ceremonial part of the palace. It was here that the Sultan lived and worked, as well as his men.
The second route Haremlik (Haremlik is a private, family part of the palace) - involves a tour of the chambers of the sultan's wives and relatives of his family (female).
Each route is about an hour in duration.
Please note that photography and filming in the palace is prohibited, and independent travel is also prohibited.
How to get to Dolmabahce Palace
If you are staying in the Sultanahmet area, then you can take the T1 tram to the Kabataş stop, and then walk along the waterfront for 5 minutes.
From Taksim Square you can get there by funicular, also to the Kabataş stop.
From other parts of the city, you can get by bus or ferry to Kabataş or Beşiktaş pier and then walk.
Dolmabahce Palace on the map:
For those who want to relax after the excursion and give new impressions "fit" in the head, we offer to warm up with a cup of hot tea, looking at the Bosphorus in a cafe on the territory of the Dolmabahce Palace itself.
Saat Kule Kafeterya
Cafe overlooking the Bosphorus, next to Dolmabahce Palace
Located in the outer garden next to the Clock Tower, Saat Kule Café attracts visitors with magnificent views of the Bosphorus. Here you can take a break before a portion of new impressions, looking at the blue waves of the strait and the ships that cut through them. Sea smell and seagulls included.
The prices in the cafe menu are quite affordable, so if after visiting Dolmabahce, you are going to continue your excursion route outside of it, you can have a snack here: Turkish tea from 3 liras, coffee from 7 liras, simit 1.75 liras, salads from 10 lire. The cafe menu contains not only hamburgers, pizza, but also manti, kofte, soup and much more. The cafe is open every day from 9-00.
Dolmabahce Mosque was created in the middle of the 19th century. In it, like behind the painted facades of any of the mosques of ancient Istanbul, amazing stories, legends and facts are hidden. However, few of them are as magnificent and as luxurious as this baroque mosque. It is located on the shores of the Bosphorus on the southern side of the most European of the city's palace complexes, Dolmabahce, and is also known as the Bezmialm Valide Sultan Mosque, the mother of the Sultan for whom it was built.
This mosque is still active today. You can visit it during daylight hours(during the prayer, the mosque is closed to visitors).
History
The construction of the Dolmabahce palace temple began in 1853 at the behest of the wife of Mahmud II - Bemial Valide Sultan. It was led by a well-known Ottoman Empire Karapet Amira Balyan is an architect of Armenian origin who created the old Yildiz Palace, several Armenian churches, the buildings of the Military Academy, the Academy of Fine Arts and the Ortakoy Mosque. In his work, he was assisted by two sons - Sarkis and Nikogos. After the death of his mother, her son, Sultan Abdul-Majid I, insisted on continuing construction. By 1855, the mosque had opened its doors to the Sultan, his family members and courtiers.
After the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the Dolmabahce Mosque began to gradually deteriorate. From 1956 to 1960, the collection of the Naval Museum was exhibited in it, and only since 1967, divine services began to be held here again. In 2009, the temple was completely restored in all its original glory.
Architecture and decoration
The area of the mosque, a square-shaped building, is 625 sq.m. As part of a huge palace complex, it matches in style with other buildings in Dolmabahce - for example, residential buildings intended for employees. The main architectural solution in the Dolmabahce Mosque is Baroque, but it is abundantly decorated with elements of luxury and another classic style - Empire. Prayer niche, mihrab, like the pulpit, mimbar, are carved from red porphyry - noble rock used for decoration imperial palaces Ancient Rome and the residence of Queen Cleopatra.
The magnificence of the Dolmabahce mosque (video)
A magnificent precious chandelier hangs under the dome of the mosque, but not only it attracts the eyes of tourists. On both sides of the building there are two high, 40-meter minarets with balconies. They say that they were once even thinner. In pursuit of beauty and uniqueness, the architect Nikogos made them so graceful that they collapsed, unable to bear their own weight. The main decoration that distinguishes Dolmabahce from other Istanbul temples are arched windows arranged in a circle and resembling a peacock's tail. Such an unusual architectural solution, filling prayer halls with sunlight, was not previously used in the construction of temples.
The mosque is adjoined by balconies where members of the Sultan's family spent time, and a courtyard - perfect place for walks, full of benches, paths and pretty fountains.
Dolmabahce Palace
The palace, of which the Dolmabahce Mosque is a part, is distinguished by architecture that is non-standard for the East. This residence of the Sultan, located in the Besiktas region, rather resembles the most luxurious of the royal houses in Europe. The construction of the Dolmabahce complex, which lasted 13 years, took 5 million gold pounds, and more than 40 tons of silver and 14 tons of gold were spent on decorating the interior. The palace houses a priceless collection of works by Aivazovsky and a precious crystal chandelier weighing more than 4 tons, presented to the ruler of the East by the Queen of Great Britain. During the existence of the Ottoman Empire, Dolmabahce was the residence of six sultans, and in the 20th century, after the founding of the Turkish Republic, it was turned into a summer government residence. The last moments of the life of the great Mustafa Kemal Ataturk passed within its walls. On November 10, 1938, at 9 hours 5 minutes, his breathing stopped, and with him all the clocks in the area froze.
For a long time, the complex was used as a museum, and now it is the official residence of the Prime Minister of Turkey in Istanbul. Its two main parts - the luxurious Selamlik, the chambers where official state affairs are conducted and high-ranking guests are received, and the cozy Harem, the residence of the members of the Sultan's family and the kingdom of the ruler's mother, Valide Sultan, are open to tourists. Excursions around them, as well as inspection of the library, mosque, clock tower (showing not only time, but also air pressure and temperature), summer palace Beyberley, garden pavilions, mansions and a park with fountains will take the whole day. You can also look at the Dolmabahce Clock Museum and the museum, where the palace works of art are collected, at the factories for the production of silk, carpets and imperial porcelain. For guests of the complex there are cafes and souvenir shops.
How to get to Dolmabahce mosque
Dolmabahce Mosque is located at Visnezade Mh., 34357 Besiktas / Istanbul and is located on the very shore of the Bosphorus Strait. Her coordinates for searching on the navigator are 41 ° 2'12 ″ N 28 ° 59'42 ″ E.
To get to the mosque, you don't have to delve into the intricate infrastructure of huge Istanbul. You can take the branded Istanbul tram T1 and, having arrived from Aksaray or Sultanahmet to the Kabatash station, walk for a few minutes along the coast.
If you are traveling by ferry, get off at Kabatas or Besiktas and walk towards the clock tower.
From Taksim Square you can go down to Kabatas using the funicular, marked on the metro map as F1.
Taxi
If it is more convenient for you to get around Istanbul by taxi than to study the scheme public transport, ask the staff of any hotel or cafe to call a car for you or contact the drivers at the organized taxi ranks that are available in all tourist places... The fare, as in the rest of Turkey, is calculated by the meter.
Transport junction Kabatash (Dolmabahce Mosque can be seen in the distance) - Google Maps panorama
There are many interesting places that are worth visiting for a tourist. Among them are palaces, temples, hamams and much more. There are almost three thousand active Muslim mosques alone. There are many small, little-known shrines for visitors, but there are also many that people of various faiths from all over the world seek to visit.
Each of the mosques ancient capital It has unique story, unusual appearance and rich interior decoration. But the most visited of them are real masterpieces, works of art that leave no one indifferent. And so Bezmialem Sultan Mosque (tour.Bezmialem Valide Sultan Camii), which appeared in the 19th century, is able to win the hearts of tourists.
Dolmabahce Mosque in Istanbul - a little history
The construction of the mosque began in 1853 at the request of the mother of Sultan Abdul Majid I, Bezmial Valide Sultan. But when she died, the building was not finished yet. Further, the process of erecting a Muslim shrine was taken over by the son. The talented architect Karapet Balyan worked on the creation of this architectural monument.
The mosque was completed in 1855, at that time it was one of the richest in Istanbul. The Sultan regularly came there to pray on Fridays. Between 1956 and 1960, the mosque housed naval museum, and in 1967 religious services began to be held there again. In 2009, the building was completely renovated.
Dolmabahce Mosque - description
Dolmabahce Mosque built in the baroque style. It has a square shape with sides of 25 meters. Thus, the total area of the mosque is 625 m².
As part of the palace complex, the mosque contains two-story front section in which statesmen could worship Allah and make prayers. The balcony for the Sultan is protected by a screen made for security purposes. Public processions and meetings could be held near the mosque.
A distinctive feature of the building is circular arrangement of arched windows that resemble a peacock's tail. This unusual architectural solution was not used by the masters who erected other mosques before the construction of the Dolmabahce shrine. The mosque has two minarets with balconies... The height of the minarets is 40.25 m. The interior decoration of the building shows a mixture of Baroque and Ampere styles. There is a precious chandelier under the dome. Red porphyry was used in the construction of the mihrab and the member.
Where is the mosque and how to get to it
Dolmabahce Mosque stands on the shore, in the south of the Dolmabahce Palace. The official address of the attraction: Visnezade Mh., 34357 Besiktas / Istanbul. Attraction coordinates: 41 ° 2'12 ″ N 28 ° 59'42 ″ E.
You can get to the mosque in one of the following ways:
- Dolmabahce Mosque can be reached on one of the buses IETT: 30D, 28T, 28, 26B, 26A, 26, 103, 70KE, etc.
- It is also followed by funiculars: F1, T1.
- In addition, expressways run towards the mosque. ferries: V2, V3, V6.
- For those who prefer to ride by tram, the route T1 -ZEYTINBURNU - KABATAŞ will do. Stop - FINDIKLI.
More detailed information about the transport that goes towards the mosque can be found at www.placesinistanbul.com/placeTransit.php?placeID=1524&lan=EN.
Dolmabahce Mosque in the photo
Below you can find a selection of photographs of the Dolmabahce Mosque in Istanbul. This beautiful architectural monument, located by the waters of the Bosphorus, looks like a fabulous structure. It makes you admire and dream of being there as quickly as possible.
Dolmabahce Palace is located in Istanbul, in one of the most picturesque areas of the city - Besiktas. This area in the European part of the city offers a magnificent view of the Bosphorus, the Bosphorus bridge, as well as the gardens of the Beyoglu district. The history of the Dolmabahce Palace dates back to the middle of the 19th century, because it was built by the order of Sultan Abdulmejid I, who ordered the construction of a new residence in the Baroque style, which will be grander and more monumental than the best European palaces of that time. Before that, for many years (since the 15th century), the residence of the Turkish sultans was Topkapi Palace - the greatest Istanbul medieval complex, which today is one of the most famous museums in the world. We will prepare a separate article about him.
Dolmabahce Palace was built in just 13 years (construction began in 1843 and ended in 1856). The construction cost the Turkish treasury 5 million pounds in gold, and another 14 tons of pure gold and 40 tons of silver were used to decorate the palace interiors. The palace complex has grown to 45 thousand square meters in several years.
Dolmabahce Palace became home to 6 Turkish sultans (from 1856 to 1924). The last ruler whose residence was the Dolmabahce Palace was Caliph Abdulmejid Efendi. By a special decree dated March 3, 1924, the palace was transferred to the Office of the Turkish Republic as an object of national heritage. Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder and first president of the Republic of Turkey, used the palace as a summer residence and a venue for special events. It was in the Dolmabahce Palace that Ataturk spent the last days of his life and died in his room on November 10, 1938. By the way, sometimes tourists are perplexed about the fact that all clocks in the palace show the same time - 09:05 in the morning. The answer lies in the fact that it was at this time that Mustafa Kemal died in the palace.
From then until September 2007, Dolmabahce Palace was a museum, until the Turkish parliament returned it to the status intended for the palace. Since 2007, Dolmabahce Palace has been the official residence of the Prime Minister of Turkey in Istanbul.
Dolmabahce Palace is the most Grand Palace in Turkey. The complex, located on a huge area of 45,000 square meters, has 285 rooms, 46 halls, 6 baths (hamam) and 68 toilet rooms. The architecture of the palace combines elements of Baroque, Rococo and neoclassical styles, blended with traditional Ottoman architecture to create a unique style. The interior decoration of the palace demonstrates the growing influence in Turkey at that time European styles and the art of the Tanzimata era.
Traditionally, a tour of Dolmabahce Palace consists of 2 parts. The first - Selamlik - is part of the public chambers in the palace, adapted for receiving guests and holding official events. The word Selamlik translated from Turkish means “place to welcome”. Traditionally Selamlik is the chambers of the man, the owner of the house. The second - Harem - that part of the Turkish house (or residence) where servants, children and women live. The word "harem" in translation from the Arabic language (haram) means "forbidden", "inviolable". Entrance to each of the two parts of the palace is paid separately. Entrance to Selamlik costs 30 TL, to Harem - 20 TL. Those wishing to visit both parts can use a single ticket, which costs 40 TL.
A tour of the Dolmabahce Palace takes a lot of time, so for those who have a limited time, we advise you to visit only Selamlik, which is more interesting and large-scale, and postpone the harem for another time. The palace has 3 main entrances - 2 from the side of the city, one more - for arriving by ship from the Bosphorus, and there are 12 gates in the complex. Ticket offices are located on the Kabatas side - from the end of the palace complex near the tram stop. Here is the Saltanat Kapisi Gate (Sultan's Gate). Even without entering the territory of the palace, you can admire the flower clock and the magnificent entrance group, which used to be used only by sultans and ministers. In the summer, every Tuesday afternoon, the Mehters ensemble performs here - a traditional Ottoman military band that gives concerts on other days at the Ataturk Military Museum on Cumhuriyet Jaddesi.
The second entrance is located in the center of the palace (entrance from the side of the avenue) a little further than the Swan Fountain - the Hazine-i Hassa Kapısı gate (treasure gate). Here you can spend a little time and look at the setting of the guard of honor, which takes place every hour.
On the territory of the complex is the Dolmabahce Mosque, which was founded by order of Valide Sultan in 1853, and after her death was completed by her son Sultan Abdulmejid. The height of the minarets of the mosque is over 40 meters.
Another attraction of Istanbul is located in front of the Sultan's gate of the palace - Dolmabahçe Saat Kulesi clock tower. The construction of the tower was ordered by Sultan Abdulhamid II and completed in 1895. The tower is made in the style of the new baroque. Its height is 27 meters.
Dolmabahce Palace tours take place every 25 minutes, but you won't find a Russian group here. Tour guides work either in English or Turkish languages, and the tour itself takes place at a very fast pace, so those who like to walk slowly and enjoy the beauty are better off taking a personal guide or walking on their own.
Please note that Dolmabahce Palace has a daily quota for the number of visitors - no more than 3000 people. All palaces and pavilions are closed on Mondays and Thursdays. Dolmabahce Palace is open from 9 am to 4 pm, however, ticket offices close after the sale of the daily rate of tickets. As a reminder, the cost of a visit to Selamlik is 30 TL, to Harem is 20 TL, and a subscription to visit both parts of the palace is 40 TL.
SELAMLIK
Selamlik is the male half of the palace, which is also called Mabeyn-i Humayun (Mabeyn-i Hyumayun). Here the sultans of the Ottoman Empire were engaged in matters of state importance.
The first hall you enter is called Medhal (medhal - entrance). Here you will be told about the history of the palace, given statistical data. Under the ceiling you will see an amazingly beautiful chandelier and 60 branches. Historically, visitors to this hall were met by the head of the palace protocol and escorted to an audience.
Next, the tour will go through the secretariat room, lobby and exhibition hall with a magnificent collection of objects made of crystal, porcelain and precious metals. Then you will find yourself in a small palace mosque and go out into the hall to the Crystal Staircase, along which you will climb to the second floor.
Probably the most luxurious hall of the palace awaits you there - the Sufer hall (the ambassadorial hall), where the ambassadors of foreign states were expecting a meeting with the Sultan, and the salon located next to the Kyrmyzy (red hall) was used for important negotiations. In the center of the hall lies a huge Iranian carpet with an area of almost 90 square meters, a pair of bear skins, one of which was donated by Tsar Nicholas II, and the second was bought by the Sultan for symmetry. A two-ton chandelier hangs from the ceiling. The chambers of the Sultan are located in the same part of the palace. Thereafter, you will be escorted to the Muayed Salon (official hall) ceremonial hall. Here the Sultan received the heads of state, conducted official ceremonies and special events. This hall could simultaneously accommodate up to 2,500 people. The dome of the hall is supported by 56 columns, and the largest and heaviest chandelier in the world, a gift from Queen Victoria, hangs from the ceiling.
Originals hang in some rooms of the palace famous artist Aivazovsky, written by order of Sultan Abdul-Aziz. For 40 paintings with images of the Bosphorus, the artist received the highest award of the empire - the Order of Osman with diamonds. Interestingly, a few years later, in protest against the massacre staged by the Sultan in 1894-1896, Aivazovsky threw this order into the sea.
The architecture of the Dolmabahce Palace turned out to be unique also because for the first time in the history of the Ottoman Empire, the premises of the harem were in the same building with the male half of the palace. The interiors of the harem are of course inferior to those of selamlik in luxury. It was here that the personal life family of the monarch. The harem contains many rooms of the Sultan, the quarters of wives, concubines, heirs and mothers, as well as the Pink Hall (Pembe Salonu), where the inhabitants of the harem gathered, as well as Mavi Salonu, a place where Valide Sultan received the wives and favorites of her son on religious holidays. Often the attention of tourists is drawn to the sleeping room of Sultan Abdul-Aziz, his custom-made bed (the sultan was obese and weighed over 150 kilograms), as well as the offices and rooms in which Mustafa Kemal Ataturk worked.
How to get there
Getting to Dolmabahce Palace will not be difficult even for those who are not familiar with the Istanbul infrastructure. To get to the palace from Sultanahmet, Aksaray, Laleli, Zeytinburnu districts and Eminonu, Sirkeci and Karakoy districts, it is enough to take the T1 high-speed tram to Kabatas station. Then you need to walk (in the direction of the tram) for 5-10 minutes along the coast of the Bosphorus and get to the Sultan's gate of the palace.
To get to the palace from the "upper" part of the city (Taksim square and its surroundings, Shishli, Beyoglu), you need to go down from Taksim square to the Kabatash station and from there follow the above route to the palace. Also, the palace can be reached from the quays of Kabatas (by the same route), as well as Besiktas (you need to walk towards Kabatas).
From the Ortakoy Mosque and the Bosphorus Bridge can be reached by passing buses (which go to Taksim and Besiktas), as well as by numerous dolmus and taxis. The taxi fare is 10-15 TL.
HOW IT WORKS AND HOW MUCH COSTS
Dolmabahce Palace is open daily except Mondays and Thursdays from 9 am to 4 pm. Please note that the palace has an attendance limit of 3000 people per day. After the sale of this number of tickets, the ticket offices are closed. The cost of a ticket to Selamlik is 30 TL, to Harem - 20 TL. Subscription to visit both expositions - 40 TL.
