The Ottoman Empire was one of the great empires in the world, which ruled modern Turkey and many other countries for many years, and played an important role in the spread of the religion of Islam to other parts of the world.
Many buildings and palaces have survived since then, which are now known as tourist attractions, and attract many travelers and tourists from all over the world.
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Ciragan Palace in Istanbul is one of these tourist centers, which is also used as a luxury hotel.
This beautiful palace was built with royal architecture and designed by the most famous Ottoman architects.
If you are planning to go on a trip to Istanbul, don’t miss the opportunity to visit this historic palace, Ciragan Palace, the last palace of the Ottoman Empire.
History of Ciragan Palace in Istanbul
This palace was built during the reign of Sultan Abdul Aziz I in 1863, and was completed in 1872, as it took about 12 years to build.
The palace was designed and built by the Armenian architect Sarkis Balian and his two sons; these three architects were known to be the best Turkish architects of the time.
The walls and ceilings of Çırağan Palace were made of wood, the outer walls of the palace were covered with colored marble.
The beautiful marble connected the palace with Yildiz Palace on the adjacent hill, and a very high wall separated the palace garden from the outside.
The construction of the building was financed through financial loans intended for the reconstruction of Istanbul’s water system and the construction of a new railway.
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This is the last palace built by the Ottoman Empire for the royal family, which was used as a residence for Sultan Abdul Aziz I, and after his death his nephew Sultan Murat IV settled in this palace.
However, Sultan Murat’s stay in this palace was only 90 days because his brother Sultan Abdul Hamid II dismissed him on the pretext of insanity, after which Abdul Hamid II lived in the palace until 1910.
The main building was destroyed by fire on January 6, 1910, leaving only the outer walls of the building, which is why the palace remained uninhabited for a while and was forgotten.
After a while, a Japanese company bought Ciragan Palace and renovated the main building.
And after the restoration of this palace it was used as one of the most luxurious hotels in Turkey and the best hotels in the world.
Ciragan Palace naming
The name Ciragan, which is Çırağan in Turkish, is derived from the word “Çırağ”, meaning luminous torch.
Çırağan Palace in Istanbul is located in a privileged location on the European shores of the Bosphorus in the neighborhoods of Besiktas.
In the past, famous Ottoman parties and festivals were held in its garden using luminous torches, which is why this palace is called Çırağan.
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Interior decoration of Ciragan Palace in Istanbul
Çırağan Palace is one of the most beautiful royal palaces in Istanbul, which is visited by many tourists every year.
One of the great features of this palace is its beautiful interior architecture. Once you enter this royal palace, you can see the distinctive interior decoration.
In addition to Islamic designs, beautiful Turkish designs were used to decorate this palace, and chandeliers and other elegant and antique items were recently added to this building.
The interior architecture of the palace, especially the parts of the royal residence and the place where Abdul Aziz I and his nephew lived, show the Ottoman architecture of that period.
As we mentioned, the palace is now used as a hotel and about $40 million has been spent to renovate it.
All the palace halls are covered with expensive carpets. The hotel rooms are decorated with gold colors and seashells.
The hotel entrance doors are similar to the doors of Yıldız Palace in Istanbul and are inspired by the doors of the temples.
Ciragan Palace Hotel, a 5-star luxury hotel
The 5-star Çırağan Palace Hotel is one of the best and most luxurious hotels in Istanbul, with many celebrities and foreign tourists booking it every year.
Çırağan Palace Hotel in Istanbul is one of the Kempinski hotel chains, which is one of the most luxurious hotels in the world and has more than 70 branches in more than 30 countries.
This unique hotel has a total of 315 rooms located in two main buildings.
The rooms at Ciragan Palace Hotel include standard rooms and suites, VIP suites and Sultan Suite.
Most of the palace suites also have tall glass windows and terraces overlooking the garden or the Bosphorus.
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Sultan Suite, which is the most luxurious and most expensive suite in the Ciragan Palace Hotel.
In 2012, CNN ranked the Sultan Suite at Ciragan Palace Hotel as the 14th most expensive hotel room in the world.
Çırağan Palace Hotel includes luxurious and varied cafes and restaurants that serve delicious dishes, and welcomes guests with a beautiful view of the Bosphorus.
One of the most famous of these restaurants is the Tugra restaurant, where you can try a variety of delicious dishes from all over the world.
This restaurant bears the signature of the Ottoman sultans, which was used as a royal seal where it can be seen on the dishes used in this restaurant, for this reason it was called Tugra, which in Turkish means the signature Kings.
Visiting Ciragan Palace
You do not need to stay in this hotel to visit and use some of its facilities. In other words, visiting the historical part of the palace is open to the public and tourists.
You can stay in another hotel and visit this palace to save money during your stay in Istanbul because the cost of staying in this hotel is very expensive.
In addition to visiting historical sites, you can use some of the public facilities in this hotel such as Turkish bath, massage parlour, outdoor swimming pool, gym, free internet and facilities like these.
Address and how to get to Çırağan Palace in Istanbul
Çırağan Palace is located in Ortakoy and Besiktas, on the banks of the Bosphorus.
About 50 km from the new Istanbul Airport, and 25 km from the Ataturk Airport.
You can reach Çırağan Palace easily from the city center via Istanbul’s public transportation lines, such as the metro or buses.
It is also very easy to reach Besiktas and Çırağan Palace on foot, it is very close to the city center and Taksim Square, only about 20 minutes.
Address: Yıldız, Çırağan Cd. No:32, 34349 Beşiktaş/İstanbul, Turkey
