Dolmabahce Palace

History of the Dolmabahce Palace

Turks led a nomadic lifestyle in Central Asia, living in portable dwellings like yurts (otags). As a result, early Turkish empires did not build large palaces. After the conquest of Constantinople in 1453, Sultan Mehmed II commissioned the construction of Topkapi Palace, a sprawling complex of pavilions and courtyards suited to Ottoman court life.

By the 19th century, Ottoman officials had increasing contact with Western Europe, bringing back impressions of Western palaces and royal customs. Influenced by these encounters and raised under European-style education, Sultan Abdulmecid I, with the support of his mother Bezmi Alem, initiated the construction of a new, more Western palace. The chosen site was a filled-in bay (dolma bahçe), hence the palace's name: "Dolmabahce" meaning "Filled Garden". Construction began in 1843 and concluded in 1856.

Architectural Features and Materials

Dolmabahçe Palace blends Ottoman and Western European styles, especially Baroque, Rococo, and Neoclassical influences. The palace has 285 rooms, 43 halls, and 68 bathrooms. Materials were imported from across the empire and Europe: white marble from Marmara Island, colored marbles from Egypt and Italy, porcelain from China and France, and chandeliers from Baccarat and Murano.

The palace consists of three main sections:

• Mabeyn-i Hümâyun (Administrative Section)

• Muayede Hall (Ceremonial Hall)

• Harem (Private Quarters, or Seraglio)

Courtyards, Gardens, and Gates

• Saltanat Gate: The ornate main gate reserved for the sultan. Its Rococo styling symbolizes royal authority.

• Treasury Gate: A secondary gate weighing approximately six tons, made of cast iron.

• Grand Garden: The front garden with a decorative swan fountain and floral arrangements.

• Kuşluk Garden: A smaller garden that historically contained exotic birds like peacocks and pheasants.

Mabeyn-i Hümayun (Administrative Section)

• Medhal Hall: Used for ceremonial greetings and Friday visits. Lit by a 60-branch British crystal chandelier.

• Süfera Hall (Ambassador's Lounge): Lavishly decorated with a Baccarat crystal chandelier, Hereke carpets, gold-leaf ceiling, and a white bear rug gifted by the Russian Tsar.

• Porphyry Room: Named for its green porphyry walls, used for private meetings.

• Acceptance Room: Where foreign ambassadors met the sultan. Also remembered for hosting Sultan Vahdettin's controversial meetings during the Allied occupation after WWI.

• Relic Room: Holds Sakal-ı Şerif, a relic believed to be a strand from the Prophet Muhammad's beard.

• Library and Caliphate Room: Where the last Ottoman Caliph was informed of the dynasty's exile.

Muayede Hall (Ceremonial Hall)

• It has a massive 36-meter dome, 56 columns, and a 5-ton chandelier with 750 crystal lights.

• The golden throne was placed here during official ceremonies.

• The hall also held Atatürk's catafalque after his death in 1938, before his body was transported to Ankara.

The Harem (Seraglio)

• Acceptance Room: Used for guests; includes a chamber for the Prophet's relic.

• Blue Lounge (Ceremony Lounge): Hosted congratulations from harem women during religious events and coronations. Features a 72-arm Baccarat chandelier.

• Sultana's Bedroom: Contains a gold-plated bed and refined furniture.

• Atatürk's Chamber: Where Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of modern Turkey, passed away on November 10, 1938. Clocks in the room remain stopped at 9:05 AM, the time of his death.

• Hamam: Built with transparent Egyptian marble, with Murano and Bohemian glass fixtures.

Dolmabahce Mosque

Commissioned by Bezmi Alem, the mosque was completed in 1855 in Baroque style, resembling a church in appearance. It features a slender minaret and is located near the waterfront of the palace.

Clock Museum

Originally used as a treasure chamber, the Clock Museum now displays a large collection of Ottoman-era timepieces.

Furnishings and Decorative Arts

• Chandeliers: 36 chandeliers in total, most made of British, Baccarat, and Murano crystal.

• Carpets: All major rooms are furnished with Hereke carpets, woven in imperial workshops.

• Furniture and Accessories: Rooms feature porcelain, silver, mother-of-pearl inlays, and hand-painted ceilings.