The Dolmabahce Palace was built between 1843 and 1856 when the Ottoman Empire was losing its power. This superb palace displays the richness and power that the Sultans had. The decline of the Ottoman Empire began and people starting revolting; the Ottoman army was obsolete and disorganized, the economy was out of control.
The Dolmabahce Palace is located on the west, European shore of the Bosphorus and is enormous. It has 248 rooms, 43 entrance halls, 6 Turkish baths and approximately 2.700 windows. It is divided into two 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 is sumptuously decorated throughout - Bakara crystals, pictures by famous artists, luxurious furniture, rugs and carpets from the famous carpet manufacturers of the city Hereke. Every square meter was decorated with the best money can buy.
A 2,000 square-meters salon has a crystal chandelier weighing 4.5 tons which was a present from the Queen Victoria of England. To heat this enormous salon it was necessary have to begin 3 days before the event.
Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish Republic, lived and governed Turkey from this palace for just 3 months. You can visit his simple, modest bed-room and office, symbolic of a man who lived and died for his country.
