Dolmabahce Palace is a palace of the last sultan of Istanbul. Translated from the Turkish "Dolmabahce" means "garden of bulk." The palace was built on the site of the buried small bay. Initially, in the early 17th century, it was built wooden building Besiktas. In the mid-19th century, this building was replaced in the Dolmabahce Palace, which was built in the European style.

In 1853, Sultan Abdul-Majid first ordered the construction of a magnificent palace, which can not match the palaces of European monarchs. The construction of the palace complex of Dolmabahçe engaged architects and Karapet Nikogos Balyanomami. Dolmabahce Palace - a massive three-story neoclassical building, with a facade of white marble. The length of the facade of the palace is 600 m. The interior of the palace rich, ceilings and walls are decorated with gold, antique French furniture, a huge collection of clocks, vases, candlesticks, paintings, Bohemian Dotterel, silk carpets, white marble bath.

The palace complex includes several buildings. The palace kitchen are separate from the building on the other side of the road. Kitchens were specially placed separately from the castle to the smells of cooking did not disturb the residents of the castle. For guests who arrive by sea, a marina was built. Dolmabahce palace complex consists of 12 gates. At the moment some of the gate is a guard of honor. A special ceremonial changing of the guard is considered.

In the palace of many rooms having a different purpose: the harem - the female part; the male half, in which there are apartments of the Sultan; library; hall for receptions. The largest room is a hall for receptions, the dome of the room is decorated with a large crystal chandelier, which weighs 4 to 5 tons. This chandelier presented to Queen Victoria. There in the palace, and a gift from Russia - a polar bear skin. To skin is not spoiled, Turks repainted it in brown.

Some rooms of the palace are decorated with paintings by the famous artist Ivan Aivazovsky. At the end of the 60s. 19th century Ottoman Sultan Abdul Aziz ordered an order of 40 paintings depicting the Bosphorus. During the execution of this order Turkish artist received the highest award - the Order of Osman, decorated with diamonds. But after a few years the Order Aivazovsky threw into the sea, which meant a protest against the massacre, which gave the Sultan in the years 1894-1896.

All available in the palace clock is stopped and they put the time 9:05. This time, the death of the founder of the Turkish Republic - Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. He died in this palace, which was his residence, November 10, 1938. The room in which he died Kemal, is stored in the form in which it was in the last minutes of the life of the first president of Turkey. The bed is covered with the national flag of Kemal.

Today the palace renovated and opened to the public. In two halls of the palace are exhibited precious things ("Shop Precious Things"). It contains a collection of national porcelain, as well as "Treasure Palace", which includes priceless paintings. In the "Hall Gallery" exhibition of paintings. The hall, which exhibits photos, is under the "Hall Gallery." In the library of Sultan Abdulmezhita can be reached through the corridor of the "Hall Galleries."

In the garden there is room for storage of home textiles, Children's Room, Clock Tower. There is a cafeteria and souvenir shop for visitors. Here tourists can purchase scientific and educational books, miniature paintings, made with art collections, postcards of palaces.