Dolmabahce Palace

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The Dolmabahce Palace taken from the TDI Ferry.

Built by Sultan Abdul  Mecit with borrowed money the palace  opened in  1856 after the Crimean War.  

 

  
The Dolmabahce Palace can be seen as the last hurrah of a once great Empire.  No longer did the minor powers of Europe, Africa and the Near East quake with fear at the prospect of a Turkish conquest.

The Great Turk's wealth was gone, his army was in disarray and his people were considering revolution.

Recognising the ascending European star he tried to Westernise his empire modernising the military and civil service.  To that end he built a French style palace on the banks of the Bosphrous.  The Ottomans abandoned the Topkapi and presided over the fall of their vast empire from Dolmabahce.
It is only possible to visit the interior  on a guided tour which takes 60 to 90 minutes plus time in line to buy tickets.

Two tours are offered.  The Harem housing the Sultan, his family and the women and the Selamlik, reserved for men and containing the state and ceremonial rooms.  We took both but if you can only take one, choose the latter.
The Swan Fountain.

The gardens of the palace were built on reclaimed land, hence the name Dolmabahce which means 'the filled in  garden'.
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