Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
SIGHTS
DOLMABAHÇE PALACE
| PALACE
NAVAL MUSEUM
OFFLINE MAP
| MUSEUM
Fri; Bahçeşehir Unv.)
This museum of Turkish naval history focuses on Ottoman maritime
power and the achievements of two great sailors: the 16th-century cartographer Piri Reis
and the admiral of Süleyman the Magnificent's fleet, Barbaros Heyrettin Paşa
tin Paşa Türbe; )
, designed by Sinan, is in the square opposite the museum.
The museum is located on the Bosphorus shore close to the Kadiköy İskele in Beşiktaş
and when this topic went to print, it was closed for a major renovation and extension. When
it reopens, an entry charge will apply.
Outside the museum, dolmuşes (minibuses) run up to Taksim Meydanı (Taksim Square)
and to Harbiye, where Turkey's major military museum, the
Askeri Müze
(Military Museum;
212-233 2720; Vali Konağı Caddesi; adult/student 5/3; 9am-5pm Wed-Sun)
, is located. The Ot-
toman military band known as the Mehter performs there most days between 3pm and
4pm.
ÇIRAĞAN PALACE
OFFLINE MAP
| PALACE
GOOGLE MAP
(Çırağan Sarayı; Çırağan Caddesi 84, Ortaköy; Çırağan)
Not satisfied with the architectural exer-
tions of his predecessor at Dolmabahçe, Sultan Abdül Aziz (r 1861-76) built his own grand
residence at Çırağan, only 1.5km away. Here, architect Nikoğos Balyan, who had also
worked on Dolmabahçe, created an interesting building melding European neoclassical
with Ottoman and Moorish styles. The palace is now part of the Çırağan Palace Kempinski
Hotel.
YILDIZ PARK
OFFLINE MAP
| PARK
GOOGLE MAP
(Yıldız Parkı; Çırağan Caddesi, Yıldız; chalet museum adult/child 10/5; chalet museum 9am-4.30pm
Tue, Wed & Fri-Sun; Yahya Efendi)
Abdül Hamit II didn't allow himself to be upstaged by
his predecessors, making his architectural mark by adding to the structures built by earlier
sultans in Yıldız Park. The pretty
şale
(Yıldız Chalet Museum;
212-259 4570; admission 4, still/
