Dolmabahçe Palace Museum, Istanbul
This article sheds light on the architecture that shaped Istanbul’s history, focusing on the grandeur of Dolmabahçe Palace.
Dolmabahçe Palace, the residence of the Ottoman sultans between 1856 and 1922, is an architectural masterpiece on the shores of the Bosphorus. Construction began in 1843 by order of Sultan Abdulmejid I and was completed in 1856. From that year, it became the administrative and royal center of the Ottoman Empire, serving as the seat of government until 1887. The court then temporarily moved to Yıldız Palace before Dolmabahçe Palace resumed its role as the administrative center between 1909 and 1922.
Located in the Beşiktaş district, Dolmabahçe Palace remains one of Istanbul’s most prominent historical landmarks. Its design blends European influences—Baroque, Rococo, and Neoclassical—with Ottoman traditions, creating a unique harmony of styles. Today, the palace serves as a museum, showcasing the personal treasures of the sultans, its opulent state halls, and its magnificent chandeliers that embody the grandeur of the Ottoman era.
Inside the halls of Dolmabahçe Palace, chandeliers twinkle like hanging stars, while the walls whisper timeless tales of the sultans on the banks of the Bosphorus. (Photo: Andreas Wilguni – Free use)