Dolmabahçe Palace, Ottoman palace in Beşiktaş, Turkey
Dolmabahçe Palace is an Ottoman administrative building in Beşiktaş district directly on the European Bosporus shore in Turkey. The complex divides into three main sections with several reception halls, living quarters, and a central ceremonial hall under a high dome.
The Sultan commissioned Armenian architects to design the project starting in 1843, completed by 1856. The residence was meant to replace the old Topkapı Seraglio and show the opening of the empire toward European influences.
The name means "filled garden" and refers to the reclaimed shoreline where the building stands. Elaborate crystal chandeliers from Bohemia hang in many halls, while gilded stucco decorations on the ceilings frame the walls.
Guided walks lead through the representative men's quarters and then through the private living spaces of the harem. Photography is not allowed inside, so careful observation during the visit is especially worthwhile.
The last Ottoman Sultan left the premises in 1922, and Atatürk used it afterward as presidential residence until his death in 1938. All clocks in the building have since been set to the hour of his death at 9:05.
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