Where is the beylerbeyi palace in istanbul? What is the history of beylerbeyi palace?
“Wherever there is a divinely beautiful, high, elegant mound, or a hill or a piece of land, there is absolutely a mosque, a palace or a Turkish cottage there. There isn’t any place around Bosporus, or a ridge or a bay in Asian and European shores on which a pasha or a vizier did not built a villa or a garden.” (Alphonse de Lamartine, İstanbul Yazıları, p.128-129)
Beylerbeyi Palace is located on the Asian side of the Bosporus, in Beylerbeyi district. It was built by Sultan Abdulaziz. Its architects were Sarkis and Agop Balyan. It was built between 1863 and 1865. It is estimated that it cost nearly 500.000 Ottoman liras.
The palace is a two-story stone building constructed above a high basement. 65-meter-wide palace was constructed on an area of 2500 square meter, and it was placed parallel to the Bosporus. The palace contains 6 halls, 24 rooms, a Turkish bath and a bathroom.
The palace consists of 3 parts as; Mabeyn-i Humayun, Sultan’s Bedroom, the Room of Sultan’s Mother. The Hall with Pool and the section called as Blue Hall because of the color of its pillars are the most beautiful parts of the palace. Sultan Abdulaziz’s interest in sailing can be seen clearly in the decorations and motifs which were used in some of the rooms and halls.
Sea mansions of the palace, Marble mansion in the backyard and Sarı (Yellow) Mansion are other sections of the palace. Marble Mansion is a building survived from the time of Sultan Mahmud II.
The stables are also situated in the backyard of the palace. And sea mansions were built by Sultan Abdulaziz. And other sections of the palace are the remnants of a palace previously existed there.
Beylerbeyi Palace was used as a summer residence. And from time to time, it was used to host foreign presidents. Empress Eugenie of France, Emperor Joseph of Austria-Hungary, Crown Prince Guillaume Nicola Charles of Prussia, Shah Nasireddin of Iran were some of the guests stayed in Beylerbeyi Palace.
Sultan Abdulhamit II spent a kind of prison life in this palace after his dethronement. He spent last 6 years of his life in this palace and died there on 10 February 1918.
The palace is open from 9.00 to 15.00 everyday, except Mondays and Thursdays.
Source: Harun Kırkıl, Read About and Travel Around ISTANBUL, Erkam Publications
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