The Three Magnificent Palaces in the World's Most Beautiful City

Turkchem 07 Aug 2021 44 5 dk okuma

TURKCHEM

Çırağan Palace

Located in Beşiktaş, Çırağan Palace is one of the most beautiful and magnificent palaces in our history, where sultans lived in the past and whose grand structure has won the admiration of all. Çırağan refers to the evening entertainments held by candlelight during the Tulip Period (1718-1730). Because these entertainments were held at the location where the palace stands, the palace was named "Çırağan Palace". The location between Beşiktaş and Ortaköy was known as "Kazancıoğlu Gardens" in the 17th century. In the 18th century, palaces and gardens overlooking the sea that adorned the Beşiktaş shores are among the most important symbols of the period known as the Tulip Period, the era of 'Love of Flowers and Music'. It was built by the Grand Vizier Damat İbrahim Paşa and his wife Fatıma Sultan during the Tulip Period. Architectural Features Çırağan Palace constitutes one of the leading examples of the Orientalist style that became prevalent in the 1860s-1880s. It was constructed in accordance with Orientalist tendencies drawing inspiration from the Alhambra Palace of the Andalusian Umayyads. Superior examples of stone craftsmanship and richly adorned columns complete the spaces. Rooms are decorated with rare carpets, and furniture features gilt and inlaid mother-of-pearl work. Like other palaces on the Bosphorus, Çırağan serves as a venue for many important gatherings. Its facades are adorned with colored marble, it has monumental gates, and is connected to the Yıldız Palace on the back ridge by a bridge. The street side is surrounded by high walls. "A Masterpiece United with the Splendor of the Bosphorus" The palace extends from Beşiktaş to Ortaköy and consists of five sections. These comprise ten structures including the Ceremony and Private Chambers, the Imperial Circle, the Harem, and the Crown Prince's Section. The most splendid section of this palace is the sultan's section, distinguished by its facade animated by marble columns in the center. "A Masterpiece United with the Splendor of the Bosphorus" The palace extends from Beşiktaş to Ortaköy and consists of five sections. These comprise ten structures including the Ceremony and Private Chambers, the Imperial Circle, the Harem, and the Crown Prince's Section. The most splendid section of this palace is the sultan's section, distinguished by its facade animated by marble columns in the center. The closest example to Çırağan is the plan of the Cypriot Mansion dating back to the 18th century. In Çırağan Palace, the classical Turkish plan with three sofas was largely applied within a strict rectangle, and picturesque bay windows and projections reminiscent of old Turkish palaces were avoided. The remains, which stood as ruins for years, were restored through major repairs and converted into a seaside hotel with additions made to it. The restored Çırağan Palace is used as a hotel today.

Yıldız Palace

Yıldız Palace was built for Mihrişah Sultan, the mother of Sultan Selim III (1789-1807). It was used as the main palace of the Ottoman State during the reign of Ottoman Sultan Abdülhamid II (1876-1909). Today it is located in the Beşiktaş District. It is a complex of palaces, mansions, administrative, security, service structures and parks set within a garden and grove that extends from the Marmara Sea shore to the northwest, rising up to the ridge line and covering all the slopes. Structured as the administrative center of the state, Yıldız Palace developed in parallel with Sultan Abdülhamid II's political and administrative understanding.

"A Center of Culture and Art"

During the reign of Abdülhamid II, Yıldız Palace, in addition to being the administrative center of the state, became a center of culture and crafts over the years with the addition of many structures and manufacturing facilities. The presence of a printing house, photography studio, theater, art gallery, small museums, music studio and observatory within it allows Yıldız Palace to be described as a space of culture and art. A porcelain and ceramics factory was established for the production of ceramics and porcelain items, one of the areas of interest to the sultan, and the palace became a production center where traditional culture was preserved. The sultan, who sent gifts made here of ceramics and porcelain to the rulers of nations with which he had established friendship, also showed special interest in carpentry craft, having a specialized carpentry workshop built in the palace where particularly valuable work in carving was accomplished.

Architecture

The Yıldız Palace complex, composed of mansions and administrative and service structures set within gardens and groves, represents the final example of Ottoman palace architecture. During the reign of Sultan Abdülhamid II (1876-1909), Yıldız Palace, used as the administration center of the Ottoman State and the residence of the sultan and his family, with structures built in various styles (Baroque, Art Nouveau, Neo-Classical, etc.) by architects of the Balyan family and Italian architect Raimondo D'Aranco, and with its garden design, bears witness to the development of late Ottoman architecture and landscape design in interaction with Europe. The complex of structures comprising mansions and kiosks arranged around three courtyards surrounded by high walls, as well as the palace theater, museum, library, pharmacy, carpentry workshop and studios, presents the appearance of a small city during the reign of Sultan Abdülhamid II.

Beylerbeyi Palace

Beylerbeyi Palace is located in the Beylerbeyi neighborhood of the Üsküdar district of Istanbul and was built for Sultan Abdülaziz between 1861-1865 by architect Sarkis Balyan. Built between 1863-65, it is a structure overlooking the vast blue of the Bosphorus. Beylerbeyi Palace and its structures, a 19th-century work that fills the eye with its garden terraces and captivates with its mansions, are a charming palace housing historical characters. Beylerbeyi Palace and its surroundings have hosted different structures since the Byzantine Period. In the area called "Stavros Garden" from the Byzantine Period until the early 19th century, the first palace structure was built by Sultan Mahmud II. Beylerbeyi Palace, which reflects Western style on the exterior and classical Ottoman architectural style on the interior, was mostly used as a summer palace and a state guest house.

"Striking Original Architecture"

Beylerbeyi Palace, along with Dolmabahçe, is a palace that draws attention with Istanbul's decorations. Neoclassical, Baroque and Renaissance artistic styles dominate the palace's architecture, which is distinguished by elegant craftsmanship in both its interior design and details as well as its exterior facade. Beylerbeyi Palace, in which Western and Eastern styles are blended in its architecture, also exhibits Turkish House characteristics in terms of its floor plan. The three-story structure, including its basement, contains 24 rooms and 6 halls. Most of the floor coverings in the palace were made with mats specially brought from Egypt, and the halls and rooms are decorated with items such as Hereke carpets, Baccarat crystal chandeliers, clocks of European and Ottoman manufacture, and Far Eastern porcelain. One of the most striking aspects of Beylerbeyi Palace's decoration is its ceiling ornaments. Sultan Abdülaziz, who commissioned the palace's construction, personally attended to its decorations. Sultan Abdülaziz, with an interest in and talent for painting, prepared sketches to serve as examples for the decorations and had painters brought from Europe. The ornaments worked on by master craftsmen of the period in calligraphy and calligraphic art have a rich variety in the palace.