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Beylerbeyi Palace, summer residence
of the sultans, is located at Beylerbeyi neighborhood on the Asian
shore of the Bosphorus. It was ordered by the sultan Abdulaziz and
built between 1861-1865 by head architects Sarkis Balyan and Agop
Balyan, imperial architects of Armenian origins, in French
neo-baroque style with a traditional Ottoman house plan. Important
foreign guests visiting the Ottoman Empire were accommodated in this
palace during the summer months; Prince of Serbia, King Nicholas of
Montenegro, Emperor Joseph of Austro-Hungary, Shah Nasireddin of
Iran, Prince Oscar of Sweden, and Empress Eugenie of France were
some of them. Sultan Abdulhamid II spent the last 6 years of his
life and died here in 1918, meanwhile other sultans ruled in the
Dolmabahce Palace during winter months and came here only for the
summer for a nice climate.
The palace has a rectangular plan with the long side facing the
Bosphorus. There are 6 large halls and 24 rooms on two floors raised
on a service basement which was originally used as a kitchen and
storage. The palace is divided into mens' section (Selamlik) and
womans' section (Harem) having separate entrances for both. The
Selamlik was used for State functions therefore was very ornate,
meanwhile the Harem was reserved only to the ladies and with a
simple decoration.
Besides the Ottoman House plan, everything in the palace is
symmetrical and have a very European look, including most of the
furniture, chandeliers, and other decorations. Outside is made of
stones and marble, and inside with brick walls and wooden floors.
The floors are covered with rush matting from Egypt against humidity
in winter and heat in summer. There are also large Hereke type
carpets decorating the floor. Bohemian crystal chandeliers, French
clocks, and Chinese, Japanese, French and Turkish porcelain vases
are decorating the rest. There are many oil paintings on the walls
describing naval scenes, and Arabic inscriptions on the ceiling. The
Hall with the oval pool and the Blue Hall (or Ceremonial Hall) are
the most interesting state halls, meanwhile the Admirals' Room on
the ground floor is the most intriqute one. There wasn't any heating
in the palace because it was never planned to be used during cold
winter months.
The gardens are full of different kind of trees, with a great view
of the Bosphorus, and two small sea kiosks by the pier which were
used by the sultans to have their tea or coffee enjoying the ships
and boats passing. Behind the palace there is an old tunnel and a
terraced garden with two pavilions: Sari (Yellow) Kiosk by the pool
on the upper terrace, and the Mermer (Marble) Kiosk with its
interior fountain and marble walls. Ahir (Stable) Kiosk was reserved
for the sultans' horses, is a long rectangular building with a small
marble pool and twenty stalls, and with paintings of horses
decorating the entrance ceiling.
The palace gardens are available for private receptions upon advance
application to the Ministry of Tourism.
Please note that you're not allowed to take any photos or film
inside the palace building.
Beylerbeyi Palace
Cayirbasi Cad, Beylerbeyi-Istanbul
Phone: +90 216 3219320
Open daily except Mondays and Thursdays, between 09:30-16:00
Please note that admission fees, opening times or days of closure of
the museums might be changed without prior notice, or that museum or
section might be closed for restorations. To be certain on the
closure days or opening times, you can call that museum directly
(country code for Turkey is +90) or contact me to double check. Most
of the museums have longer opening hours during summer months.
Hope to see you soon in Istanbul.
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