Dolmabahçe Palace, Ottoman palace in Beşiktaş, Istanbul, Turkey
Dolmabahçe Palace is a 45,000 m² Ottoman palace on the European shore of the Bosporus in Beşiktaş, Istanbul. Its 600-metre waterfront facade of pale stone rises directly from the water, with paired columns, tall arched windows and a projecting central entrance. Inside, a southern wing for receptions and a northern harem wing are separated by the Ceremonial Hall, whose dome reaches 36 metres.
Sultan Abdülmecid I had the palace built between 1843 and 1856, replacing the demolished Beşiktaş Sahil Palace; Hacı Said Ağa oversaw works by Garabet Balyan, his son Nigoğayos Balyan and Evanis Kalfa. Its cost of five million Ottoman lira, or 35 tonnes of gold, was met through debased paper money and foreign loans, straining state finances before the 1875 default. It housed six sultans until 1924.
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 world's largest crystal chandelier hangs in the Ceremonial Hall: 750 lamps and 4.5 tonnes, long assumed to be a gift from Queen Victoria until a receipt found in 2006 showed the sultan had paid for it in full. The Crystal Staircase is built of Baccarat crystal, brass and mahogany in the shape of a double horseshoe.
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