The Dolmabahce Palace was the residence of the last 6 or 7 of the Ottoman Sultans - built as an alternative to the Topkapi Palace located in the SultanAhmet district. When Ataturk deposed of the Sultans and made Turkey a republic - he stayed at this palace whenever he had business in the city - otherwise most of the time he was in Ankara where the republic's capital was and is until today. Ataturk spent his last days in this palace where he died from a liver ailment due to his overindulgence in his 'drinks'.
The interior of the palace is an exhibition of grandeur and opulence not unlike the great palaces of the European kings. In fact many of the decorations and chandeliers in the palace were made of European crafts. The biggest chandelier in the great hall weigh ?4 tons.
The tour of the palace were divided into 2 parts - the first to the main building and the second to the 'harem' section of the palace. The tour gave a general idea to the lifestyle of the Ottoman rulers. Unfortunately no pictures were allowed to be taken in the palace.
the Dolmabahce Mosque @ the entrance to the palace
these school-kids on tour of the palace
entrance into the palace grounds
large gardens in front of the main palace building
one of the several gates into the palace grounds
the Bhosphorus Sea
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