| Çırağan Palace | |
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Çırağan Sarayı | |
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 A view of Çırağan Palace from theBosporus | |
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| Alternative names | Çırağan Palace Kempinski |
| General information | |
| Type | Hotel (former palace) |
| Location | Beşiktaş |
| Address | Çırağan Caddesi 32 |
| Town or city | Istanbul |
| Country | Turkey |
| Coordinates | 41°02′40″N29°01′00″E / 41.04444°N 29.01667°E /41.04444; 29.01667 |
| Current tenants | Kempinski Hotels |
| Construction started | 1863 |
| Completed | 1867 |
| Renovated | 1991 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Nigoğayos Balyan |
| Structural engineer | Sarkis Balyan andHagop Balyan |
Çırağan Palace (Turkish:Çırağan Sarayı), a formerOttomanpalace, is now afive-star hotel in theKempinski Hotels chain. It is located on theEuropean shore of theBosporus, betweenBeşiktaş andOrtaköy inIstanbul,Turkey.
The Sultan Suite, billed atUS$35,419.68 per night, is ranked number 14 onWorld's 15 most expensive hotel suites compiled by CNN Go in 2012.[1]
The palace, built by SultanAbdulaziz to replace the old Çırağan Palace which was at the same location, was designed by theArmenian palace architectNigoğayos Balyan and constructed by his sonsSarkis andHagop Balyan between 1863 and 1867, during a period in which all Ottoman sultans built their own palaces rather than using those of their ancestors; Çırağan Palace is the last example of this tradition. The inner walls and the roof were made of wood, the outer walls of colorful marble. A beautiful marble bridge connects the palace to theYıldız Palace on the hill behind. A very high garden wall protects the palace from the outer world.
The construction and the interior decoration of the palace continued until 1872. Sultan Abdulaziz did not live long in his magnificent palace - he was found dead inside on 30 May 1876, shortly after he was dethroned. His successor, his nephew SultanMurad V, moved into Çırağan Palace, but reigned for only 93 days. He was deposed by his brotherAbdul Hamid II due to alleged mental illness and lived there under house arrest until his death on 29 August 1904.
On November 14, 1909, during theSecond Constitutional Monarchy, SultanMehmed V allowed theOttoman Parliament to hold their meetings in this building. Only two months later, on January 19, 1910, a great fire destroyed the palace, leaving only the outer walls intact. Called "Şeref Stadı", for many years its garden served as afootball field for the clubBeşiktaş J.K.
In 1987, the ruined palace was bought by aJapanese corporation, which restored the palace and added a modern hotel complex next to it in its garden. The modern hotel building was opened in 1990 and the restored palace building was opened in 1992. Today, it serves as luxury suites for the five-starKempinski hotel along with two restaurants that cater to guests.
The Palace was renovated again during the first quarter of 2007, now resembling the authentic palace with the baroque style and soft colors.
Media related toÇırağan Palace at Wikimedia Commons
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