Dolmabahçe Palace Museum

Dolmabahçe Müzesi,

This spectacular palace consists of 285 rooms, 44 halls, 4 grand halls, 5 main staircases, 6 hamams, and 68 restrooms. The total usable area of the three-floor, single-structure building is 45,000 meters square. The outer walls of the structure are made of stone, and inner walls are made of brick.

14 tons of gold, 6 tons of silver, and 131 handmade Hereke silk rugs were used to decorate this extraordinary and extravagant luxury building. The palace has an extensive collection of Baccarat, Bohemian, English, and Venetian glass and crystal. The museum has more than 1,000 chairs and couches in various styles, mostly brought from Europe. There are 4-5 chairs and/or couches in each of the 285 rooms in the museum. Some of the furniture was specially ordered for Dolmabahçe, but some was received as gifts from China, India and Egypt as well. These fascinating furniture sets are displayed in rooms decorated with the lavishly painted ceilings and mahogany wood floors.

Ceramic stoves and fireplaces were used to heat the palace. Electrical and central heating systems were installed in the palace between 1910 and 1912.

There are three main sections in the palace; the Selamlık (Mâbeyn-i Hümâyûn) used for receptions and administration, theCeremony Hall (Tören, Muâyede Salonu) and the Residence (Harem-i Hümâyûn).