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Istanbul
embraces two continents, one arm reaching out to Asia,
the other to Europe. Through the city's heart, the
Bosphorus strait, course the waters of the Black Sea,
the Sea of Marmara and the Golden Horn. The former
capital of three successive empires - Roman, Byzantine
and Ottoman - today Istanbul honors and preserves the
legacy of its past while looking forward to its modern
future. Indeed it is Istanbul's variety that
fascinates its visitors. The museums, churches,
palaces, great mosques, bazaars and sights of natural
beauty seem inexhaustible. As you recline on the
shores of the Bosphorus at sunset contemplating the
red evening light reflected in the windows on the
opposite shore you understand, suddenly and profoundly,
why so many centuries ago settlers chose to build on
this remarkable site. At times such as these, you feel
that Istanbul is truly one of the most glorious cities
in the world. |
Topkapi
Dolmabahce |
PALACES
On a spot of land at the confluence of
the Bosphorus, the Golden Horn and the Marmara Sea
stands the Topkapi Palace, the maze of buildings at
the center of the Ottoman Empire between the 15th and
19th centuries. In these opulent surroundings the
sultans and their court lived and governed. A
magnificent wooded garden fills the outer or first
court. On the right of the second court, shaded by
cypress and plane trees, stand the palace kitchens,
now galleries exhibiting the imperial collections of
crystal, silver and Chinese porcelain. To the left,
the Harem, the secluded quarters of the wives,
concubines and children of the sultan, charms visitors
with echoes of the intrigue of centuries. Today the
third court holds the Hall of Audience, the Library of
Ahmet III, an exhibition of imperial costumes worn by
the sultans and their families, the famous jewels of
the treasury and a priceless collection of miniatures
from medieval manuscripts. In the center of this
innermost sanctuary, the Pavilion of the Holy Mantle
enshrines the relics of the Prophet Mohammed brought
to Istanbul when the Ottomans assumed the caliphate of
Islam. (Open every day except Tuesday.)
Built in the mid-19th century by
Sultan Abdulmecit I, the facade of Dolmabahçe Palace
stretches for 600 meters along the European shore of
the Bosphorus. The vast reception salon, with 56
columns, and a huge crystal chandelier weighing four
and a half tons and lit by 750 lights, never fails to
astonish visitors. At one time, birds from all over
the world were kept in the Bird Pavilion for the
delight of the palace's privileged residents. Ataturk,
founder of the Turkish Republic, died in Dolmabahce on
the 10th of November, 1938. (Open every day except
Monday and Thursday.) In the 19th century, Sultan
Abdulaziz built the Beylerbeyi Palace, a fantasy in
white marble amid magnolia-filled gardens, on the
Bosphorus Asian shore. Used as the Sultan's summer
residence, it was offered to the most distinguished
foreign dignitaries during their visits. Empress
Eugenie of France was among its residents. (Open every
day except Monday and Thursday.) In addition to the
State Pavilions at the Yildiz Palace, the compound
includes a series of pavilions and a mosque. It was
completed by Abdulhamit II at the end of the 19th
century The chale, the largest and most exquisite of
the buildings, reveals the luxury in which the sultans
lived and entertained. Set in a huge park of flowers,
shrubs and trees, gathered from every part of the
world, the palace grounds offer one of the most
beautiful panoramic views of the Bosphorus. Because of
restoration work, only the chale and park are open to
the public. (Open every day except Monday and Thursday.)
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Goksu Palace
Aynali Kavak |
PAVILIONS
The
Göksu Palace, also known as Kucuksu, takes its name
from the streams which empty into the Bosphorus near
the tiny palace. Built by Abdulmecit I in the middle
of the 19th century, it was used as a summer residence.
(Open every day except Monday and Thursday) Originally
built in the 18th century and later restored by
various sultans, the Aynali Kavak Summer Pavilion
assumed its name, Mirrored Poplar, when its famed
mirrors, a gift from some of the Venetians, were
installed in 1718. This palace on the Golden Horn is
one of the most beautiful examples of traditional
Turkish architecture. (Open every day except Monday
and Thursday) The 19th-century lhlamur Pavilion is
named after the linden trees that grow in its gardens.
Now in the heart of metropolitan Istanbul, when it was
originally constructed, the pavilion lay in the
rolling countryside that surrounded the city. The
Merasim Pavilion was used for official ceremonies
while the Maiyet Pavilion sheltered the sultan's
entourage and on occasions, his harem during their
excursions out of the palace confines. (Open every day
except Monday and Thursday) The Maslak Pavilion on a
shady green hill were conceived by Sultan Abdulaziz as
hunting lodges and are superb examples of the late
19th-century Ottoman decorative style. These are
particularly noteworthy. (Open every day except Monday
and Thursday) The Florya Atatürk Sea Pavilion served
as a summer residence for Turkish presidents. Built in
a T-shaped design jutting out onto the Marmara Sea,
this building constructed in 1935, serves as a
showcase for some of the loveliest examples of early
20th century furnishings. Ataturk was the first
president to stay here. (Open weekdays except Monday
and Thursday.) |
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