Beylerbeyi Sarayı

Beylerbeyi Sarayı was conceived as the summer residence of the Ottoman sultans and as a state guesthouse where foreign heads of state or rulers would be hosted, and it was built at the request of the sultan of the period, Sultan Abdülaziz (1861-1876). Construction of the palace began on 6 August 1863 and it was officially opened for use on Friday, 21 April 1865, with a ceremony. The construction organization of the palace was carried out by Ebniye-i Şâhâne Serkalfası (Chief Master Builder of the Palace) Serkiz Bey (Balyan). The duty of building superintendent, which can also be described as responsibility for the financial and administrative affairs of Beylerbeyi Sarayı, was carried out by Mehmed Efendi, Mahmud Efendi and Rıfat Efendi. It is determined that the palace cost approximately 500 thousand Ottoman liras.

Beylerbeyi Sarayı, the main structure of the building complex, is a two-storey masonry structure on a high basement. Built on an area of approximately 2 thousand 500 square meters, the structure sits on a rectangular ground plan. The southern part of the palace was arranged as Mabeyn-i Hümâyûn, while the northern part was arranged as the Valide Sultan Dairesi. On both floors there are a total of 6 halls, 24 rooms, 1 bath and 1 bathroom. Built through a mixture of Western and Eastern styles, Beylerbeyi Sarayı has the plan characteristics of a Turkish house with its Harem and Mabeyn sections. The roof of the structure is concealed by a balustrade that hides all the edges of the facades from above. The plan of the palace has a plan composition based on the motif of a central hall with iwans. The scheme in Beylerbeyi Sarayı consists of three sections. These sections are Mabeyn-i Hümâyûn, Yatak Dairesi (Hünkâr Dairesi) and Valide Sultan Dairesi. The main Harem section belonging to the kadınefendis and ikbals, which comes immediately after the Valide Sultan Dairesi and was built parallel to the sea, was constructed separately from the main building; this structure has not survived to the present day. The entrance facade of Mabeyn-i Hümâyûn shows an arrangement in which the Neo-baroque emphasis is more pronounced. Like the mass and facades of the palace, the interior arrangements were also shaped with an eclectic understanding.

Because of the passion for the sea of Sultan Abdülaziz, who had Beylerbeyi Sarayı built, sea and ship themes were worked into some of the frames and cartouches on the palace ceilings; Sultan Abdülaziz even drew patterns containing sea and ship themes to give ideas to the painters.

BEYLERBEYİ SARAYI IN HISTORY

Beylerbeyi Sarayı was used as a summer palace by its patron Sultan Abdülaziz (1861-1876). The palace acquired the function of a state guesthouse when, during the reigns of Sultan Abdülaziz and Abdülhamid II, it began to be allocated to foreign rulers or heads of state on their official visits. The first important guest hosted at Beylerbeyi Sarayı was Empress Eugénie of France. The Empress's visit took place in return for Sultan Abdülaziz's 1867 trip to France. Other foreign guests hosted at Beylerbeyi Sarayı during the reign of Sultan Abdülaziz were Emperor Joseph of Austria-Hungary (1869), Crown Prince Frédéric Guillaume Nicola Charles of Prussia (1869), the Crown Prince of Italy (1869), and Nasıreddin, Shah of Iran (18 August 1873).

During the 33-year reign of Sultan Abdülhamid II (1876-1909), Beylerbeyi Sarayı also served as a museum, especially visited by foreign state protocol. In this period, together with Beylerbeyi Sarayı, Dolmabahçe Sarayı and Topkapı Sarayı Hazine-i Hümâyûn were also used as imperial museums that could be visited on condition of obtaining the sultan's permission. Immediately after Sultan Abdülhamid II was deposed, he was subjected to compulsory residence at the Alatini Köşkü in Salonika, but about 3 years later he was transferred to Istanbul due to the outbreak of the Balkan War. The new compulsory residence chosen for Abdülhamid II was Beylerbeyi Sarayı. The former Hakan spent the last 6 years of his life in this palace and closed his eyes to life in this same palace on 10 February 1918.

Places to Visit in Istanbul Address: Abdullahağa Caddesi 81210 Beylerbeyi Üsküdar İstanbul