Mehter (Military Band) in the Dolmabahce Palace.
The Dolmabahce Palace is perfectly intact with its extravagant interior decor that was meant to surpass in magnificence any other palace in the world - all the furnitures, silk carpets and draperies in its 285 rooms and 43 halls in three storeys are originals. The walls and ceilings of many rooms and halls are adorned with the mural paintings of outstanding European artists of that time as well as motifs made by using tons of gold. ln the important rooms of the palace all the furnishings are in varying tones of the same colour.
The floor everywhere is paved with highest quality wooden parquet of different colours and textures, covered with beautiful silk and wool carpets from Hereke, all striking examples of Turkish art. Various objets d'art brought from Europe and the Far East, paintings, crystal chandeliers and candelabrums and the beautiful fireplaces in many rooms are priceless elements of the lavish decor of the palace.
Interior view of the Dolmabahce Palace.
In the Harem that can be reached by long corridors there are the Sultan's bedchambers, a section for the Sultan's mother, the quarters of the ladies of the Harem and the servants' quarters.
After the Republic of Turkey was founded, the Dolmabahce Palace served for a while as Ataturk's residence during his visits to Istanbul, and it was in this palace that the founder of modern Turkey passed away 1938 and that tens of thousands of his people in procession paid their last salutations to their beloved leader before the coffin was sent to Ankara. All the clocks in the palace now mark the hour of Ataturk's death.
Today, the Dolmabahge Palace is open as a museum during certain days of the week and is one of the important treasures of Istanbul a visitor must see.
Dome of the Dolmabahce Palace.
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