I had been in Istanbul so many times and never seemed to have enough time to see all the major sights that most tourists start with. My experiences in Istanbul have always been ones of excitement,a sense of being in a constant rush and absolute awe of the magnitude of history that had occurred over more than 4000 years in a space of 1500kms. The battles fought,the greatest leaders the world has ever seen and the superb mastery of art and architecture that for so long has made the world jealous and mad with desire are just a few things that make this city stand out from the rest. So I finally made it to see the sumptuous,decadent and incredible Dolmabahçe Palace. Skillfully created on the banks of the famous Bosphorous Strait in 1843, this marvel of architecture was inspired by the luxurious palaces of Europe and was used as a secondary residence for the Sultan and his family during Turkey’s hot summers. Upon the founding of the Turkish republic,it was decided by Parliament to become the permanent presidential home and later in 1952 was, luckily for us, converted into a strictly guarded(no photos are permitted) museum. The tour takes about 2 hours in a hurried pace but if one has time a good day can be made of it. Be sure to take your time in the gorgeous marble Hamam with sea views, pausing in the small library and making your way to the highlight of the tour which is the gorgeous Ceremonial Hall with its gigantic Bohemian chandelier and supposed biggest throne room in the world.
One of the extraordinary Chandeliers that embellish the stunning halls.
The splendor of marble that befits a Sultan is everywhere.
Camilla Travels 