Dolmabahce Palace, Dolmabahce means in English the filled in garden. Because it is based on a reclaimed area filling the sea. Until the 17th century, the area where Dolmabahçe Palace stands today was a small bay on the Bosphorus. From the 17th century, the bay gradually filled in and became one of the Imperial Bosphorus Parks known as Dolmabahce. It is located on the western European coast of the Bosphorus.
Dolmabahce Palace was built by Sultan Abdulmecit between 1843 and 1856 when the Ottoman Empire was losing its power. This palace was the first European-style palace in Istanbul. Five million pounds of Ottoman gold, the equivalent of 35 tons of gold, was spent on construction. 14 tons of gold were used only to adorn the interior ceiling.
The Dolmabahce Palace shows the wealth and power of the sultans. Built on a symmetrical plan, the three-story palace has 285 rooms, 6 Turkish baths, approximately 2,700 windows, 43 rooms and a total area of 45,000 square meters. This palace is decorated with Bakara crystals, paintings by famous artists, luxury furniture, rugs and rugs from famous carpet makers in Hereke city. Dolmabahce has the largest collection of Bohemian and Baccarat crystal chandeliers in the world.
It is divided into 2 sections: the official part where the Sultan would receive distinguished guests from all over the world and the harem where the wife, mother and concubines of the Sultan lived. The palace has survived intact with its original decorations like furniture, silk rugs, curtains and everything in between.
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of the Republic of Turkey and first President of Turkey, spent his final years at Dolmabahçe Palace as his health deteriorated. He died at 9:05 am on November 10, 1938, in a room which is now part of the museum and is open to visitors.
The Dolmabahçe Palace Museum is open to visitors Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., except Monday and Thursday.
