Ever since the Byzantine Empire, the territory of the modern district of Istanbul - Beylerbeyi, located on the Asian shore of the Bosphorus Strait, was settled. Historical sources of the XVIII century tell us that this place was called "Gardens Istavroz" (from Byzantium., Istavroz - cross) after the Emperor Constantine the Great erected a cross here. During the Ottoman Empire, there was an imperial park. Indzhidzhian - known traveler XVISH century, describes the events for which this place was named Beylerbeyi. During the reign of Murad III, in the XVI century, Mehmed Pasha, was awarded the title of Governor-General - beylerbeya Rumelia, and then he built a villa on the shores of the Bosphorus.

On the orders of Sultan Mahmud II in 1827 he appeared in the Beylerbeyi Palace, which was created by the architect Kirkor Balian. However, in 1851, under Sultan Abdul-Majid I, this structure consisting entirely of wood, and adjacent to the beach was partly destroyed by fire. It managed to survive only Kёshk Mermer Marble pavilion, a large pool and lower terrace.

Ottoman sultans in the XVII century built here summer residences, pavilions. In 1861-1864 gg., On the orders of the sultan Abdulaziz - brother and successor, Abdul-Majid I, on the same spot where the fire had destroyed the wooden palace, owned by Mahmud II, architects and Agop Sarkis Balian was re-erected a new palace - summer residence Sultans. He served as the seat of important guests of foreign countries during their visit to the Ottoman capital, and was made in the baroque style.

In 1865, construction was completed on the construction of stone and white marble. Its length along the coast is 65 m. Surrounded by gardens, it was of the magnolias. The palace was divided into two parts - the harem and common rooms.

Beylerbeyi consisted of two main floors and a basement (basement) room, which houses the kitchen and pantry. The palace was beautifully and tastefully decorated, it has three entrances, 6 large ceremonial hall and 26 rooms. Behind him settled with fragrant magnolias flower beds. There is also a large swimming pool and several summer palaces.

The interior of the palace is a bizarre mixture of a variety of Eastern and Western styles, although the scheme of rooms is made in the Turkish tradition with a sofa in the middle. Furniture and Furnishings harem, compared with the general peace, looked modest. Design and decoration of the public rooms, called Selyamlyk was richer and more varied.

Interestingly, the floor was covered with reed in Beylerbeyi that came out of Egypt (the so-called Egyptian mats). In winter, it gets rid of the inhabitants from the dampness and moisture, and in the summer it was an escape from the heat. On the floor of the stele rare handmade carpets. The same carpets were in the Dolmabahce Palace. They were made in the palace of weaving workshops in Hereke. In the palace you can admire the magnificent beauty of the Bohemian crystal chandeliers, Chinese, Japanese, French and Turkish porcelain vases, as well as French clocks. Sultan Abdulaziz was passionate about ships. In the era of his reign, the Turkish fleet was the second largest in the world after English. This is reflected in the interior of the palace. Here you can watch a great variety of marine motifs and images of ships.

Around the palace were the hunting grounds, a zoo and a garden with plants that were brought here from all over the world. There is a tunnel leading from the palace to the gardens, built with Mahmud II. It is unusual for such a palace, because This usually built bridges. Yellow and marble pavilions, Musical apartment Deer House, Pigeon temple, poultry yard and the royal stables surround the palace.

At different time periods here visited such important people as the Prince of Wales, King Edward VIII, the Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph, Prince Nikolai, Nasruddin the Shah of Persia, King of Montenegro, Prince of Serbia, the last Turkish Sultan Abdulhamid. The Shah of Iran - after the overthrow of Nasreddin was imprisoned in the palace and died here in 1918. And in 1869, he stayed in the palace and the wife of Napoleon III - the Empress Eugenie. Sultan Abdulaziz himself supervised the preparation and decoration of such an important guest quarters. It was said that he was quite indifferent to the Empress. This is evidenced by at least the fact that even a mosquito net hanging over the bed to the window, Eugenia, was strewn with the smallest pearls. French Empress was so flattered that when she returned home, ordered the palace of the Tuileries in the same window as the residence of Beylerbeyi on the shores of the Bosphorus.

The palace has always aroused admiration and delight visitors for its refined elegance. The gardens are only allowed by prior agreement and all.