The word "Dolmabahce" in English means "The filled garden". Because the Dolmabahce Palace is founded upon a reclaimed area by filling up the sea. It's a beautiful 19th century palace right by the Bosphorus, on the waterfront. It's in baroque and rococo style and very French. Many people think that it is a small model of the palace of Versailles in Paris, France.

When one enters the palace area, the first thing to see is the beautiful French style gardens. After having a lovely walk by the Bosphorus, one reaches the main building. The palace was constructed between 1842-1853 by the Ottoman Sultans Sultan Abdulmecid. The architect was the famous Armenian architect Nikogos Balyan. The palace reflects the European and more "modern" side of the Ottoman Empire. The Sultans moved to Dolmabahce Palace after its construction was finished and never went back to Topkapi Palace which hosted them nearly 4 centuries.

The entrance hall is where the visitors were used to welcomed. This part is the official part (Selamlik) of the Palace that was only open to the men. The women and the children lived in a different part called "the Harem". The Sultan's bedrooms were also in the Harem Part. The founder of Turkish Republic, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk died in this palace in 1938 of sirosis disease. He actually lived in Ankara, Turkey's capital, but he used to come to Istanbul quite often and Dolmabahce Palace was his residence when he visited Istanbul. His room is also in the Harem Part of the Palace. There are many portraits in the palace by famous artists, like Aivazosvky of Russia. It's a very ornate palace with its 285 rooms, 43 large halls and 6 Turkish baths. The large old carpets on the floor are Hereke Carpets which were exclusively woven for the palaces.


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10/10! =)

this is my another favourite in istanbul. pearl of bousphorus.very beatiful architecture, a wonderful gatedoor and a great clock tower.
10/10
night views are very magical and interior looks very rich:)

9.5 It's kind of old and musty inside, but the main reception room as you go out from a tour is really magnificent.

9

I love dats one

http://dunyaturk.com/tr30/Faruk_dolma1.jpg

Topkapi Palace, which had been the centre of government since Istanbul had become the capital of th Empire, lost this status in 1853 when the court moved to the new palace of Dolmabahçe. This palace, built by the Balyan family of architects, was in aneclectic style heavily influenced by the western architecture. 15 000 t gold was used inside the palace. The 1st turkish president, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, died in this palace on November, 10th in 1938 at 9:05 a.m.

beautiful. looks rather european than ottoman/muslim.

i like it, sometimes a bit too few details (take a look on the roof) in comparism to the rest of the building. still, 9/10

p.s: dolma is really delicious! ;)

9/10

10/10


:uh: :eek:

wow...i havent seen from the interior but seen the exterior..awesome piece of art 10/10

:eek: magnific 10/10

http://wowturkey.com/tr42/Faruk_Oncan_IMG_4110yt.jpg

indescribable ! 10/10

9/10

9!!!

wow! This is shocking! the detail is mouth dropping! soooo elaborate!!
Wonderful... 9/10

Not so imposing on the outside...
But inside................ :eek::drool:

S-T-U-N-N-I-N-G-!

And a must-see slide show for you, pics are hotlink protected so I can not post.

Starting from Interior Details
http://www.raindrop.com/gallery/dolmabace?&page=2

All pics
http://www.raindrop.com/gallery/dolmabace?&page=1

Details out the ying-yang.

10/10

Very nice, 9/10

:redx:

9/10

http://www.jmabberley.com/turkey/dolmabahce20.jpg
http://www.chuckandallyntravel.com/images/dolmabahce_palace_interior_02.jpg
http://istanbulinfolink.com/images/istanbul_460x368/Dolmabahce_Palace_2_460x368.JPG

Dolmabahce Mosque, Istanbul

Dolmabahce Mosque is located in the south of Dolmabahce Palace, on the coast. It was originally commissioned by the mother of Sultan Abdülmecid, Bezm-i Alem Valide Sultan, but on her death it was continued by Sultan Abdülmecid. The mosque was completed in 1855; its architect is Garabet Balyan.

Dolmabahce Mosque is one of the ornamented mosques constructed in Baroque style. Since the mosque is adjacent to the palace, a two storey Sultan maksoorah was constructed on the front part where the Sultan and statesmen can perform their prayers and where public processions and meetings could be accommodated. Circular window design which is rarely seen in our mosque architecture gives the building a different look with its peacock-tail design.

Dolmabahce Mosque has two minarets with a single balcony. The interior has a decoration having a mixture of baroque and ampere styles. From the dome hangs a precious chandelier. Mihrab and mimbar is made of red porphyry.

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8,5/10

more pics
http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/8175/dolmabahce15eo.th.jpg (http://img47.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dolmabahce15eo.jpg)

http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/2857/dolmabahce23pr.th.jpg (http://img47.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dolmabahce23pr.jpg)

8/10

9/10.

10/10

9/10

its much smaller than i thought from what i can see from the inside
nonetheless a beautiful building
9/10

hopefully someone will bomb it

8/10

hopefully someone will bomb it
why? :bash:

this is fantastic mosque.

gorgeos and very well situated 10/10

8/10

9.5/10

9/10

10/10 :cheers:

10/10

8/10

8.5/10

9/10

Beautiful building but I saw on the second pic air conditioner on the facade! Funny really!!! :scouserd:
9/10

9/10

8. nice

8/10

10/10

11/10

wondeful palace.

10/10. Size, Scale & aesthetics here are really sight to behold.

the most over the top, most wonderful and beautiful palace in Istanbul 10/10

Beautiful Palace! 10/10 :)

9/10. Great building but I wish we planned the roads and the surrounding better!!

very classy 9/10

9/10

10/10 !!!!

Nice one

10/10

9.5/10

10/10 ;)

9/10 - It functions as a mosque?! =O

lol this is Dolmabahçe Palace, its not a mosque not even close:lol: probably headline changed accidently:dunno:

edit: someone combined two different threads:crazy:

here is the dolmabahçe mosque
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/94/Meczet_Nusretiye_Istambuł_RB1.jpg/800px-Meczet_Nusretiye_Istambuł_RB1.jpg

9/10

9/10:)

:eek:

10/10

outstanding 10!

8.5/10

The building is an amazing piece of architecture. It's beautiful, marvelous, and magnificent. Although, the only thing I do not like about the building is the glass spokes for the staircase.

dolmabahce MOSQUE??

8/10

Indescribable. 10/10

10/10 Istanbul of course...

9.5/10

9/10 from me.

10. Excellent. Regards.

9/10

I was there. Istanbul sucks. 10/10.

6/10

10/10 I could never say that this is in Turkey. :)

7/10

8/10

10/10

9,5/10