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Dolmabahce means in English “ The
filled garden”. Because it is founded upon a reclaimed area by
filling up the sea. Until the 17th century the area where Dolmabahce
Palace stands today was a small bay on the Bosphorus. From the 17th
century the bay was gradually filled in and became one of the
imperial parks on the Bosphourus known as Dolmabahce. It is located
on the west, European shore 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. For construction five
million Ottoman gold pounds were spent, the equivalent of 35 tons of
gold. 14 tons of gold was used only to adorn the interior ceiling.
Dolmabahce palace displays the richness and power that the Sultans
had. The three-storied palace was built on a symmetrical plan has
285 rooms 6 Turkish Baths, approximately 2.700 windows, 43 halls and
the palace has a total floor area of 45.000 square metres,. This
palace is decorated throughout Bakara crystals, pictures by famous
artists, luxurious furniture, rugs and carpets from the famous
carpet manufacturers of the city Hereke. 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 Sultan's wife, mother and concubines lived. The
palace has survived intact with its original decorations such as
furniture, silk carpets, curtains and everything else.
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of Turkish Republic and first
president of Turkey, spent his last years in the Dolmabahce Palace
as his health deteriorated. He died at 9:05 a.m. on November 10,
1938, in a room that is now part of the museum and open to visit.
Dolmabahce Palace Museum is open to visit on weekdays from 9:00 to
15:00, except Mondays and Thursdays.
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