Explore: Istanbul
The opulent 19th-century Dolmabahçe Palace, Istanbul, Turkey, is an opulent 19th-century architectural masterpiece located on the European coastline of the Bosphorus Strait. This grandiose palace served as the main administrative center of the Ottoman Empire from 1856 to 1922, showcasing a blend of Baroque, Rococo, Neoclassical, and Ottoman architectural styles. With its magnificent facade, impressive domes, and intricate interiors adorned with crystal chandeliers, gilded moldings, and luxurious furnishings, the Dolmabahçe Palace stands as a symbol of affluence and elegance from a bygone era.
Istanbul (historically known as Constantinople and Byzantium) is the largest and principal port of Turkey straddling Europe and Asia bisected by the Bosphorus Strait. A sophisticated multicultural city, it was once the capital of both the Byzantine Empire and the Ottoman Empire.
Architecture in Istanbul’s Old City reflects the cultural influences of the empires that once ruled. In the Sultanahmet (Sultan Ahmed) district, the open-air, Roman-era Hippodrome was the site of chariot races for centuries, Egyptian obelisks from that period are also still present.
The iconic Byzantine Hagia Sophia, once a Greek Orthodox cathedral, became the imperial mosque of the Ottoman Empire, and is now a museum that features a soaring 6th-century dome and rare Christian mosaics.