Çırağan Palace, Ottoman palace on Bosphorus shore, Istanbul, Turkey
Çırağan Palace is an Ottoman palace on the European shore of the Bosphorus in Istanbul connected to Yıldız Palace by an ornate bridge. The facade consists of white and colored marble while inside wooden ceilings and wall panels appear in large halls with views over the water.
The Balyan family designed and built this imperial residence between 1863 and 1867 for Sultan Abdulaziz as the last palace commissioned by Ottoman rulers. A fire destroyed large parts of the wooden structure in 1910 after which the palace remained a ruin for decades.
The name means Torch Palace and refers to lantern festivals held during Ottoman celebrations at this spot along the Bosphorus. Visitors today enter reception halls with tall windows and white marble columns while exploring the historic rooms.
The building now serves as a Kempinski hotel with rooms and event spaces that offer views of the Bosphorus. The gardens along the shore are open for walks while some interior rooms are accessible only to hotel guests.
The sultan kept wild animals in cages on the palace grounds including lions and leopards that were displayed during receptions. The animal keeping was meant to demonstrate the power of the ruler and impress guests arriving from abroad.
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