Baroque, Rococo and Neoclassical bodied in a design by the crafted hands of Garabet Amira Balyan, the architect that shaped today's Istanbul. The Balyan Family was a prominent Ottoman-Armenian family of court architects during the late-Ottoman-era and played a vital role in the Empire's monumental buildings.

The construction was commissioned by Sultan Abdulmecid I and given to Garabet Balyan to create something shining like a pearl on the Bosphorus strait. In the 19th Century, Ottoman Empire was lacking to keep up with European Monarchies in every aspect i.e. technology, culture, science, military, treasury and more importantly luxury, which was why Sultan had decided to leave a remark to show the Empire had still been in the strength to build greater things.

In order to prove that Sultan Abdulmecid I was determined to spend lavishly and not to escape from any expense, might have restrained him to own a place among the European Monarchs at the time. Sultan went beyond expected and spent nearly 1,65 billion US Dollars in today's (2020) values, which obliged him to loan money from the British Banks.

One way or another, the construction was finished in 1856 and cost not only money, but also fourteen tonnes, additional, of Gold to gild the ceilings. In the end, there was a masterpiece, come alive with charming decor, which includes the world's largest crystal chandelier -carrying seven-hundred-fifty lamps-, +100 handmade Hereke silk carpets and priceless oil paintings of various artists.

This unique tour invites you to discover the glamour of the Ottoman Empire's late era and how this glamour became the beginning of the end.