Ihlamur Palace, Ottoman imperial palace museum in Beşiktaş, Turkey
Ihlamur Palace is a museum housed in two separate pavilions built in the mid-1800s with refined stone masonry. Both structures feature rectangular layouts and carved details that reflect the ornamental standards of the time.
Built between 1849 and 1855 under Sultan Abdülmecid, the palace was constructed on grounds that had been a royal garden since the time of Sultan Ahmed III. The site shows how successive sultans used and updated the land over time.
The Ceremonial Pavilion shows how Ottoman style evolved in the 1800s by mixing in European influences. The ornate stone carvings and interior decorations reveal how the ruling family displayed their wealth and taste through the building itself.
The museum sits in a valley between Beşiktaş and Nişantaşı districts, making it walkable from the city center. Wear comfortable shoes since the grounds spread across different levels with some uneven paths.
French poet Lamartine visited the grounds in 1846 and wrote about the large linden trees that inspired the palace's name. These trees were so central to the experience of the place that they became its defining feature.
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