1.43 million people visit Turkish palaces in one year

ANKARA

Hundreds of visitors seen entering the Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the death of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the modern Republic of Turkey on Nov. 10. Atatürk died at the age of 57 in the Dolmabahçe Palace due to health problems. (Photo: Anadolu Agency)

A total of 1.43 million people visited historical palaces and pavilions in Turkey in 2018, according to figures provided by the Presidency of National Palaces Administration.

Dolmabahçe Palace by the Bosphorus, which was commissioned between 1839-1861 by the 31st Ottoman Sultan Abdulmecid and accommodated Turkey’s founding father Mustafa Kemal Atatürk from 1927 to 1938, attracted 645,000 foreign tourists in one year. The figure stood at 335,000 a year earlier.

The complex hosted six sultans at intervals and the last Ottoman Caliph Abdulmecid Efendi from 1856 until the abolition of the caliphate in 1924.

Beylerbeyi Palace on the Asian side of Istanbul, a summer residence of Ottoman sultans, was visited by 126,000 people last year.

Foreign state guests were also hosted at the Beylerbeyi Palace during the Republic period.

The Ihlamur Pavilion in the central Istanbul district of Beşiktaş followed with 73,000 visitors in one year.

The palaces’ administration generated 46.3 million Turkish Liras, roughly $8.7 million, from the fees for the palaces and pavilions.

Today there are two palaces, two kiosks, eight pavilions, three museums and two factories within the National Palaces organization whose foundation is based on the early years of the republic.

The world-famous Topkapı Palace in Istanbul, which served as the main residence and administrative headquarters of the Ottoman sultans, is administrated by the Culture and Tourism Ministry.