A view of the Dolmabahçe from the Bosphorus with modern Istanbul in the background

The Dolmabahçe Palace (Dolmabahçe Sarayı) is a palace in Istanbul, located at the western, European, side of the Bosphorus. The palace served as the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire from 1856 to 1923. The Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... This article needs cleanup. ... World map showing location of Europe A satellite composite image of Europe Europe is geologically and geographically a peninsula, forming the westernmost part of Eurasia. ... Fatih Sultan Mehmed Bridge over the Bosporus seen from over Rumelihisarı This article is about the strait; Bosphorus is also a Turkish Boğaziçi or İstanbul Boğazı) is a strait that separates the European part (Rumeli) of Turkey from its Asian part (Anadolu), connecting the Sea of Marmara (Marmara Denizi) with... The Ottoman Empire at the height of its power Imperial motto El Muzaffer Daima The Ever Victorious (as written in tugra) Official language Ottoman Turkish Capital İstanbul ( Constantinople/Asitane/Konstantiniyye ) Sovereigns Sultans of the Osmanli Dynasty Population ca 40 million Area 12+ million km² Establishment 1299 Dissolution October 29, 1923... 1856 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... 1923 was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Dolmabahçe was originally a bay in the Bosphorus which was filled gradually during the 18th century to become an imperial garden, much appreciated by the Ottoman sultans (and from here comes the name, dolma meaning 'filled' and bahçe 'garden'). Various summer palaces were built here during the 18th and 19th centuries. The palace that stands here today was built in 1856 during the reign of Sultan Abd-ul-Mejid, on the site of the old coastal palace of Beşiktaş, by the Armenian architects Karabet Baylan and his son Nikoğos. The Sultans moved here since the old Topkapi Palace lacked any modern luxuries that the Dolmabahçe could provide, such as running water. The palace is composed of three parts; the Mabeyn-i Hümâyûn (or Selamlık; the quarters reserved for the men), Muayede Salonu (the ceremonial halls) and the Harem-i Hümâyûn (the Harem; i.e. the apartments of the family of the Sultan). The palace has an area of 45,000 m² (11.2 acres), and contains 285 rooms, 46 halls, 6 baths (hamam) and 68 toilets. The famous Crystal Staircase has the shape of a double horseshoe and is built of Baccarat crystal, brass and mahogany. (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ... A sultan (Arabic: سلطان) is an Islamic monarch ruling under the terms of shariah. ... (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1856 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Sultan Abdul Mejid I Abd-ul-Mejid (April 23, 1823 – June 25, 1861) was the sultan of the Ottoman Empire and succeeded his father Mahmud II on July 2, 1839. ... Armenian may refer to: The Armenian people. ... Topkapı Palace (Topkapı Sarayı in Turkish), located in Istanbul (Constantinople), was the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire from 1465 to 1853. ... In traditional Arab culture, the harîm حريم is the part of the household forbidden to male strangers. ... Modern horseshoes are most commonly made of iron and nailed onto the hoof. ... Baccarat is a town in France of about 5000 inhabitants in the Department of Meurthe-et-Moselle in the south of the region of Lorraine. ... Quartz crystal A crystal is a solid in which the constituent atoms, molecules, or ions are packed in a regularly ordered, repeating pattern extending in all three spatial dimensions. ... Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. ... Genera and Species Entandophragma - Utile or African Mahogany Guarea - Pink Mahogany Khaya - Ivory Coast Mahogany - Senegal Mahogany Swietenia - Honduras Mahogany - West Indian Mahogany Toona - Indian Mahogany - Chinese Mahogany This article is about the trees in the family Meliaceae. ...

External links

• Photographic tour of this palace (http://www.pbase.com/dosseman/dolmabahce)