Dolmabahce Palace in istanbul
The district of Dolmabahçe is situated on the European shores of the Bosphorus, at the opening of the straits into the Marmara, between Beşiktaş and Kabataş. It is known to have been infilied from what had been a large bay where the Ottoman fleet amassed for ceremonial departure on naval campaigns. Pavilions and royal lodges were built along the shore from the 15 century onwards, as the sources in form us. In time the bay was silted up and the process of infill began in the reign of Ahmet I (1603-1617). The palace of Dolmabahçe was built on the ground gained by infill, taking its name from the imperial gardens which the sultans chose as the site. Evliya Çelebi, in his “Seyahat name” refers to the gardens as the “Dolmabahçe”. During the reign of Ahmet III (1703-1730) the royal estates were enclosed in a wall containing various imperial lodges.

That sultan repaired the walls and the royal buildings. At about that time the royal complex became known as the “Beşiktaş Saray-i Hümayun”. Sultan Abdulmecit (1839-1861) built the present palace, demolishing some of the earlier buildings to make room for it. This became a grand complex of auxiliary buildings with the main palace in the centre. The building was constructed between 1842-1856. The first section to be completed was the Mabeyn, or administrative quarters which, various inscriptions throughout the palace tell us, was completed in 1847. The latest date is to be found on an inscription over the Valide gate (1855). The palace was completed, according to the daily press, the Ceride-i Havadis dated 11 June, 1856, and Sultan Abdulmecit took up residence there on Friday, 7 June, 1856. Before this time, the sultans had always lived in Topkapý Palace.

With the early death of the patron of the palace, Abdulmecit, his successor Abdulaziz (1861-1876) also took up residence here, until his dethronement. His son and successor Murat V lived out his brief reign of three months in the same palace, to be deposed in favour of Abdülhamit. In his long 33 year reign, the later sultan lived only a few months in Dolmabahçe, later preferring to move to Yýldýz Palace which he felt to be safer. On the accession of Mehmet V (Reşad) in 1909, the palace underwent extensive restoration and renovation, and became the imperial seat once more. On his death, the throne went to Vahdettin, who remained in Dolmabahçe for a short time before moving to Yıldız Palace. After his two year reign, in 1922, the sultanate was abolished, and Abdulmecit remained as caliph, being installed in Dolmabahçe palace. In 1922 the caliphate was abolished and the imperial palaces became the property of the nation. A number of local and European artists and craftsmen were involved in the building of the palace. The architect and his assistant were Garabet Balyan and Nikogos Balyan.

The latter architect, European trained, was responsible for the construction of the Grand Müzayede hall, and the Treasury and Imperial gates. The building has three sections, the administrative Mabeyn, the ceremonial Muayede hall and the Harem. The grand hall, which is in the centre of the building, has the impressive height of 36 ms. It is flanked by the Mabeyn to the south and the Harem to the north. The total area covered by the palace is 14,595 m2 and it contains a total of 285 rooms, 43 halls, 6 baths and 6 terraces. The plan follows the basic principles of that of the Turkish vernacular dwelling adapted to a European stylistic attitude. The overal style is eclectic, with elements from the Baroque, Rococco and Empire repertoire used side-by-side. The furnishing of the palace was carried out by Séchan, decorator of the Paris Opera. His furnishings for the palace are in keeping with the magnificence of the building. The furniture, generally of European origin in various styles, included much that was ordered from European workshops for the palace, while some pieces were presented by European and far Eastern countries. Hence it’s possible to see a number of different styles of furniture in one room.

The furnishing materials are Turkish throughout. Curtains, upholstery and rugs being especially woven, mainly in the imperial factory at Hereke. Other notable decorative features are intricate parquet flooring, crystal chandeliers, candelabra, mirrors, mantelpieces and balustrades. Among the artefacts decorating the rooms are some notable porcelain ware, mainly vases of European, Far Eastern and Turkish (Yildiz Porcelain Factory) ware. Clocks were also a major decorative feature of the palace which also contains remarkable collection of paintings, approximately 600 in all.

Among them, the names of 120 artists are readable. 19 of them are the works of Zonaro, once court artist, and there are 28 Ayvasovskys, the work of the court painter to Sultan Abdulaziz. The palace has witnessed some key events in Turkey’s recent political history. Here the first parliament convened in the grand hall, in 1877. In 1932 the first Turkish Historical Congress was held here under the directive of Atatürk, and it was here that on 10 November, 1938 that Atatürk died (in room no 71). Today it is a historical building maintained by the National Trust under the auspices of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM), together with the other imperial palaces.