Ciragan Palace

Damat Brahim Pasha of Nevşehir built the first piece in the palace and gave it the name of his wife Fatma Sultan. II Sultan Mahmut demolished the ancient residence and rebuilt the palace area in 1834. Sultan II was in 1857. Abdulmecit destroyed the palace that Mahmut had erected, but because of his death in 1863, no new palace was ever completed. Abdulaziz, one of the most significant sultans of the Ottoman State, finished building the new palace in 1871. During this time, new stone foundations were built in place of the original palace’s wooden structure. Vortik Kemhaciyan created the magnificent embroidered gate.

The most valuable stones in the world, as well as materials with exceptional views like mother-of-pearl, have been brought for use in the construction of the the palace. Records reveal that the construction of the palace, which began in 1863 and was completed in 1871, cost 2.5 million gold. the palace was first used as Meclis-i Mebusan’s service building in 1909. The 1910 fire caused the palace to burn down entirely in less than 5 hours. All building work was finished in 2006 after the final repairs.

5 Days Turkey Tour – Istanbul Antalya Tour

How to Get to Ciragan Palace

In the Beşiktaş neighbourhood of Istanbul, the palace is situated on Ciragan Street. Many locations in Istanbul may be readily reached from Ciragan. ETT buses operating from Beşiktaş, Kabataş, Taksim, and Saryer can take passengers to Ciragan.

History of Ciragan Palace

This palace was begun in 1863 under Sultan Abdul Aziz I’s reign and completed in 1872, after a 12-year construction period. The palace was conceived and built by Armenian architect Sarkis Balian and his two sons, who were regarded as the best Turkish architects at the period. Raan Palace’s walls and ceilings were made of wood, while the palace’s outer walls were coated in colored marble.

The palace was connected to Yildiz Palace on the nearby hill by exquisite marble, and the palace garden was isolated from the exterior by a very high wall. The building’s construction was supported using funds intended for the reconstruction of Istanbul’s water system.

This is the Ottoman Empire’s final palace for the royal family, and it served as Sultan Abdul Aziz I’s residence until his death, when his nephew Sultan Murat IV moved in. Sultan Murat’s time at this palace, however, was short 90 days when his brother Sultan Abdul Hamid II expelled him under the guise of insanity, and Abdul Hamid II remained in the palace until 1910.

On January 6, 1910, the main building was destroyed by fire, leaving only the exterior walls of the structure, which is why the palace remained vacant for a time and was forgotten.

Ciragan Palace was eventually purchased by a Japanese business, which refurbished the main building. Following its renovation, the palace became one of Turkey’s most opulent hotels, as well as one of the top hotels in the world.

7 Days Turkey Tour Package – Western Turkey Tour

How to Visit Ciragan Palace

You are not need to stay at this hotel in order to see and use its facilities. In other words, the public and tourists are welcome to view the historical section of the palace. To save money during your vacation in Istanbul, you might stay in another hotel and visit this palace instead of staying in this hotel, which is highly expensive.

You can use some of the hotel’s public facilities, including as the Turkish bath, massage parlour, outdoor swimming pool, gym, free internet, and other amenities, in addition to touring historical landmarks.

STRUCTURE OF DOLMABAHCE PALACE

With over 110.000 square meters of construction on 250.000 square meters of land, it sure is an impressive palace on the Bosphorus. The palace is consisted of three main sections: Administrative apartments (Selamlik or Mabeyn-i Hümayun), Ceremonial Hall (Muayede Salonu), and Imperial Harem (Harem-i Hümayun). The impressive Ceremonial Hall was built between other two sections, where the sultan received his important guests and foreign statesmen. Besides the main palace, there are several other buildings in the complex such as imperial kitchens, Crown Prince rooms (Veliaht Dairesi), barracks, stables, pharmacy, flour mill, aviary (Kusluk), glass manufactory, foundry, plant house (Fidelik), greenhouse, carpet workshop, clock tower, etc. Some of the smaller buildings were destroyed or demolished during the years. There are two monumental gates giving access to the main garden (but only one is open today) of the administrative part; Treasury Gate (Hazine Kapisi) and Imperial Gate (Saltanat Kapisi).

Click HERE For Istanbul And Dolmabahce Palace Tour

The Mabeyn-i Hümayun (state apartments) is the most important section in terms of function and splendour. There is a large hall at the entrance, a crystal staircase (banisters), and other decorative elements to impress the visitors. A couple of large halls upstairs decorated with Hereke carpets, crystal chandeliers and fireplaces, and a fine imperial Hamam decorated with Egyptian alabaster are other impressive parts of the Selamlik section.

The Ceremonial Hall is a large square hall of monumental proportions, over 2.000 square meters of area and 36 meters high ceeling. It is decorated with a huge Hereke carpet and a 4,5 tons of crystal chandelier which was sent by Queen Victoria. Important state and religious ceremonies were held here. Upper galleries were used by foreign ambassadors invited to the religious ceremonies but also by the orchestra at special occasions. Women weren’t allowed in this ceremonies so they watched it from the windows of a long corridor connecting the Selamlik with the Harem, passing just above the Ceremonial Hall. During the winter, the hall was heated with the hot air blown from the heating system at the bottom of 56 tall columns, it took them about 3 days to heat the hall properly before any ceremony.

The Harem was connected to the Selamlik section by a long corridor which was guarded all the time to make sure that nobody passes. It was strictly prohibited by any man to go in, except the sultan himself of course and the eunuch servants. The Harem section is formed by several rooms, baths, and halls. There were suites of the sultan, quarter of the Queen mother (Valide Sultan), rooms for official wives, favorites (Gözde) and concubines (Cariye), and some education rooms for the young children of the sultan. Just next to the Harem section, there was the Palace of the Crown Prince.

Imperial Gate of Dolmabahce Palace rises on two floors above a basement. Local stone and some marble was used in its outer walls, brick in the inner walls, and parquet wood on the floors. It has a European design with neo-baroque style, typical of the Ottoman tradition of the mid-19th century. Even the interior furniture is of typical western design, with the exception of the plan (traditional Turkish house symmetrical plan) and Turkish rugs. Electricity and central heating system was introduced around 1910. The palace has 285 rooms, 46 reception halls and galleries, 6 Turkish baths (Hamam), and 68 toilets. There are over 600 oil paintings.

Just outside of the palace, Dolmabahce Mosque (or Bezm-i Alem Valide Sultan Mosque) was built at the same time and the Clock Tower was built a short afterwards.

Admission to Dolmabahce Palace is charged in Turkish Lira, the ticket cost for visiting both the Selamlik and the Harem section combined is 100 Lira per person. Children up to 6 years are free of charge. There are also some charges for smaller exhibitions and kiosks in the palace grounds. You’re not allowed to take any photos or film inside the palace buildings. The visit is based on a guided tour usually every 10-15 minutes. During your visit, you can relax in one of the several caffe’s on the grounds of the museum.

Click HERE For Istanbul And Dolmabahce Palace Tour