The Çırağan Palace Kempinski, regularly awarded as one of the best hotels in Istanbul and the world since its opening in 1992, recently unveiled its newly renovated Palace Suites including the Sultan Suite.
The Sultan Suite, one of the world’s most spacious and splendid suites, covers an area of 458 m2. With its enormous doors, big chandeliers and windows offering panoramic views of the Bosphorus from floor to 5.7 metre ceiling, this magnificent suite's decoration combines the best of today’s modern technology with Ottoman architecture to recreate the splendour of the Palace. Throughout the suite hang replicas of paintings by the famous Ottoman Court painter, Fausto Zonaro. Ms. Hande Akın Tözün, the interior architect for the suites, has carefully selected Ottoman Empire style furniture and accessories dating back to the 19th Century as well as costly Hereke and Uşak carpets for the Sultan Suite.
To enhance their experience of luxurious privilege, guests staying in the famed Sultan Suite have their own personal Butler, who will ensure their every wish is anticipated and met - whether it is a soirée complete with a traditional Turkish instrumental quartet or a personally guided visit of Istanbul according to their interests. Guests can also enjoy watching ships and boats sail past the Palace or take a boat tour on the Bosphorus.
Famous guests of the Sultan Suite include the Presidents and Prime Ministers of Turkey, Luciano Pavarotti, King of Spain - H. E. Juan Carlos II and the Queen, King of Jordan - Hussein and the Queen, Liza Minelli, and the US former President Mr. Bill Clinton.
The Çırağan Palace Kempinski, where the Palace Suites are located, was built between 1864 and 1871 by the last of the Ottoman sultans, Sultan Abdul-Aziz. In 1910 a fire badly damaged the Palace and it lay abandoned until 1986 when restoration began. In addition to a careful restoration of the Palace to its original architectural grandeur, a grand European-style hotel was built on the grounds.
In 1992, Kempinski assumed management of the landmark property in Istanbul.
Elsewhere in Istanbul, there have been attempts to recreate the gracious lifestyle of the sultans within new hotels, but there is a world of difference between saying, “This is what the walls of a sultan’s palace would have looked like” and “These are the very walls”.
© 2006 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
