Hotel Pera Palace
Encyclopedia
Beyoglu
Beyoğlu is a district located on the European side of İstanbul, Turkey, separated from the old city by the Golden Horn...
(Pera) district in Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. It was built in 1892 for the purpose of hosting the passengers of the Orient Express
Orient Express
The Orient Express is the name of a long-distance passenger train service originally operated by the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits. It ran from 1883 to 2009 and is not to be confused with the Venice-Simplon Orient Express train service, which continues to run.The route and rolling stock...
and was named after the place where it is located. It holds the title of "the oldest Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an hotel of Turkey".
The Pera Palace Hotel, offering magnificent views of the Golden Horn
Golden Horn
The Golden Horn is a historic inlet of the Bosphorus dividing the city of Istanbul and forming the natural harbor that has sheltered Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman and other ships for thousands of...
and the skyline of the historic peninsula, is located in the Tepebaşı neighbourhood of Pera, once known as "Little Europe". Today, Pera is the cultural and social centre of Istanbul with its vivid night life and sophisticated museums. In addition to its historic grandeur, Pera Palace Hotel is also attractive due to its central location. It is about 20 km from Atatürk International Airport
Atatürk International Airport
Atatürk International Airport is the major international airport in Istanbul, Turkey. Opened in 1924 and located in Yeşilköy, on the European side of the city, it is west of the city centre. In 1980, the airport was renamed to Atatürk International Airport in honor of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the...
.
The hotel is in walking distance of Istiklal Avenue
Istiklal Avenue
İstiklal Avenue or Istiklal Street is one of the most famous avenues in Istanbul, Turkey, visited by nearly 3 million people in a single day over the course of weekends...
, Taksim Square
Taksim Square
Taksim Square situated in the European part of Istanbul, Turkey, is a major shopping, tourist and leisure district famed for its restaurants, shops and hotels. It is considered the heart of modern Istanbul, with the central station of the Istanbul Metro network...
and the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n, Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
consulates.
The hotel was closed from 2006, undergoing a major renovation and restoration project and reopened on September 1, 2010.
History
In the late 1800s, a gap in the market for luxury hotels in Istanbul was recognised. Passengers aboard the Orient Express, the preserve of the elite, desired somewhere of equal elegance at which to rest their heads upon reaching the last stop in the East from Paris. With this in mind, the Pera Palace Hotel was born. Establishment work began in 1892 and the grand opening ball was held in 1895.Pera Palace is located in the Tepebaşı district of Pera; the ideal location for such a historic gem. Overlooking the Golden Horn and known as ‘Little Europe’, this area was, and still is, a hive of cultural activity.
Alexander Vallaury, a French-Turkish architect living in the city designed the hotel in a blend of neo-classical, art nouveau
Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau is an international philosophy and style of art, architecture and applied art—especially the decorative arts—that were most popular during 1890–1910. The name "Art Nouveau" is French for "new art"...
and oriental styles. Vallaury undertook a number of other iconic projects in Istanbul, including The Ottoman Bank Headquarters and The Istanbul Archaeology Museum.
Pera Palace, the longest established European hotel in Turkey, was ground breaking in its technology. It was the first and only building to be powered by electricity, other than the Ottoman Palaces. It was also the only address in the city to provide hot running water for its guests and was home to the first electric elevator in Istanbul.
The hotel soon became the place to see and be seen. Its spacious rooms, lit with magnificent chandeliers hosted many parties and soirees, with illustrious guests from across the globe passing through its doors. The hotel bore witness to the decline of the Ottoman Empire, the founding of the Turkish Republic and two world wars.
Architecture and renovation
Pera Palace Hotel opened as the first luxury hotel in the Ottoman Empire providing the last destination stop in the East for passengers on board The Orient Express. Located in the Tepebaşı district of Pera, this landmark hotel overlooks the Golden Horn.Pera Palace Hotel is today regarded as an important historical building and is listed under the general protection of Turkish Law (No. 2863 of 1983, amended with Law No. 5226 of 2004) concerning cultural heritage in Turkey.
Alexander Vallaury, a Levantine of French origin and resident of Istanbul designed the property. Vallaury integrated neo-classical, art nouveau and oriental styles resulting in a building which is typical of the architecture of the 19th-century Istanbul.
All the interior systems of Pera Palace Hotel are built around a 46 x 28 meter rectangular base, giving an open space in the middle of the building. This space with exceptionally high ceilings is named the Kubbeli Saloon and due to its central location, acts as the heart of the building. A roof which previously enclosed the six domes on top of the Kubbeli Salon has been opened up. The domes have been cleaned and the roof has been converted into glass to let in more sunshine.
The exterior façade, as well as the layout of the property, follows a neo-classical approach. The interiors of the building feature a more oriental style, mostly concentrated in the ballroom interior. In keeping with this eclectic vision, art nouveau lines feature in and around the elevator and in the coffee house section.
Although a prominent symbol of Istanbul’s cityscape, the Pera Palace property was in need of an extensive renovation. Consequently in April 2008, the Beşiktas Shipping Group launched a 23 million Euro renovation and restoration project. KA.BA Conservation of Historic Buildings and Architecture directed the project alongside the Metex Design Group and the entire renovation project is completed on September 1, 2010.
The key objectives of the restoration and renovation project were to ensure that the original architectural and design features of the property were preserved in accordance with Turkish Law, seeking to protect the cultural heritage of the country. Equally important was to enhance the infrastructure and technology of the Pera Palace Hotel, to ensure that it delivered on an experience synonymous with the standards of a five star luxury hotel.
The lobby area has been meticulously restored and retains the original art nouveau, neo-classical and oriental design influences. The first electric elevator in Istanbul remains intact, save for technical enhancements to keep it in working order. The communal areas on entrance floor level including The Orient Bar, The French Patisserie, Patisserie de Pera, the Tea Lounge Kubbeli Saloon, as well as the meeting rooms have all been restored whilst retaining the original architectural space and design detail.
A key attraction, the Atatürk Room 101 remains as a ‘Museum Room’, with many personal items and reading material of the great leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was an Ottoman and Turkish army officer, revolutionary statesman, writer, and the first President of Turkey. He is credited with being the founder of the Republic of Turkey....
exhibited to the public.
In terms of renovation, the priority was to provide the highest level of comfort in the 115 guest bedrooms including upgrading interior fittings and installating new telecommunication systems. The Metex Design team selected Murano chandeliers to illuminate the bedrooms and heated Italian Carrara marble within the bathrooms. The names of the hotel suites pay homage to celebrated figures of history who stayed at Pera Palace and these key figures, who include Pierre Loti, Ernest Hemingway, King Edward VIII and the Emperor Franz Joseph are referenced through objet d’arts, archive photography, subtle colour schemes and soft furnishings.
Also new to the property is the opening of the new 380 sqm Pera SPA with indoor pool with jet stream, a traditional Hammam, steam bath, jacuzzi, sauna and three treatment rooms. A gym / fitness centre is also be available.
Ownership
In 1918, Bodossakis Athanassiades, a Greek entrepreneur of Nigde, moved to Constantinople and settled at Pera Palace Hotel. It was during that time that Bodossakis found out that Compagnie Internationale de Wagon Lits, owner of Pera Palace Hotel, wanted to sell it. Fascinated by the allure of the prestigious Hotel and responding to the trend of the time by which Greeks were buying prime real estate in Constantinople, he immediately offered to buy it. He swiftly arranged a meeting with Baron Jean Batiste de Bourge, who was authorized to sell it. It took one and only meeting for Bodossakis to conclude the deal. The contract was signed on December 21, of 1918 in Paris for the sum of 5.250.000, 00 French francs. Shortly after, he spent 1.500.000, 00 French Francs for the renovation of Pera Palace thus making it one of the most luxurious hotels in Europe and the centre of all social events in Constantinople. In 1922, following the Asia Minor defeat of the Greek army, Bodossakis settled in Athens. One year later, in 1923, the new Turkish State took control of Pera Palace.After 1923, Misbah Muhayyes, who gave much to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was an Ottoman and Turkish army officer, revolutionary statesman, writer, and the first President of Turkey. He is credited with being the founder of the Republic of Turkey....
during the Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
n campaign, received a letter of gratitude from Atatürk, who, upon Muhayyes’s wish, honored him with Turkish citizenship and also handed over the management of the hotel. Muhayyes' will determined that the income of the enterprise be divided between humanitarian foundations.
In 1963, trustees left the management entirely to these organizations after forming the Istanbul Hotel Management, Tourism and Trading Company.
Towards the end of 1977, a businessman from Gaziantep
Gaziantep
Gaziantep , Ottoman Turkish: Ayintab) previously and still informally called Antep; ʻayn tāb is a city in southeast Turkey and amongst the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world. The city is located 185 kilometres northeast of Adana and 127 kilometres by road north of Aleppo, Syria...
, Hasan Süzer, bought 60% of the hotel's shares and became the top executive. Shortly thereafter he purchased the remaining shares.
The destiny of this weary building changed with the lease of its on-ground utilization rights to Besiktas Shipping Group in 2006 and a project of restoration, rehabilitation and renovation started immediately. This project consists of a detailed structural documentation and aims at returning Pera Palace Hotel to its magnificent times without damaging its historical foundations and integrity. The project started in April 2008 and completion is due in the September 1, 2010.
Famous guests
Along with politicians, artists and writers, kings, queens and heads of state have also strolled along the halls of Pera Palace Hotel. King Edward VIII, Queen Elizabeth II, Emperor Franz Joseph, as well as Sarah BernhardtSarah Bernhardt
Sarah Bernhardt was a French stage and early film actress, and has been referred to as "the most famous actress the world has ever known". Bernhardt made her fame on the stages of France in the 1870s, and was soon in demand in Europe and the Americas...
, Alfred Hitchcock
Alfred Hitchcock
Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, KBE was a British film director and producer. He pioneered many techniques in the suspense and psychological thriller genres. After a successful career in British cinema in both silent films and early talkies, Hitchcock moved to Hollywood...
, Pierre Loti
Pierre Loti
Pierre Loti was a French novelist and naval officer.-Biography:Loti's education began in his birthplace, Rochefort, Charente-Maritime. At the age of seventeen he entered the naval school in Brest and studied at Le Borda. He gradually rose in his profession, attaining the rank of captain in 1906...
and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
Jacqueline Lee Bouvier "Jackie" Kennedy Onassis was the wife of the 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy, and served as First Lady of the United States during his presidency from 1961 until his assassination in 1963. Five years later she married Greek shipping magnate Aristotle...
have all stayed, to name a few.
As testimony to the hotel’s en vogue reputation, the first fashion show in Istanbul was held at the hotel in 1926.
In 1917, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was an Ottoman and Turkish army officer, revolutionary statesman, writer, and the first President of Turkey. He is credited with being the founder of the Republic of Turkey....
, the founder of modern-day Turkey, stayed at Pera Palace for the first time. The great leader always chose to stay in Room 101 and on his 100th birthday in 1981 his room was turned into a museum as a tribute to his life. The Atatürk museum room exhibits a spectacular collection of rare Turkish and foreign Atatürk books, magazines, post cards, medals all gathered from auctions by the Pera Palace team.
Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Miller Hemingway was an American author and journalist. His economic and understated style had a strong influence on 20th-century fiction, while his life of adventure and his public image influenced later generations. Hemingway produced most of his work between the mid-1920s and the...
was also often found whisky in hand, lost in the depth of his thoughts at the Orient Bar of the hotel. Greta Garbo
Greta Garbo
Greta Garbo , born Greta Lovisa Gustafsson, was a Swedish film actress. Garbo was an international star and icon during Hollywood's silent and classic periods. Many of Garbo's films were sensational hits, and all but three were profitable...
too was a regular – she always cherished the days she spent in Istanbul, daydreaming while watching Istanbul city life from her window.
The world famous thriller writer Agatha Christie
Agatha Christie
Dame Agatha Christie DBE was a British crime writer of novels, short stories, and plays. She also wrote romances under the name Mary Westmacott, but she is best remembered for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections , and her successful West End plays.According to...
allegedly wrote Murder on the Orient Express
Murder on the Orient Express
Murder on the Orient Express is a work of detective fiction by Agatha Christie featuring the Belgian detective Hercule Poirot.It was first published in the United Kingdom by the Collins Crime Club on January 1, 1934 and in the US by Dodd, Mead and Company later in the same year under the title of...
whilst staying at the hotel. A small key, possibly to her diary, was found in her favourite room, 411.
Literature and publications
- In Ernest HemingwayErnest HemingwayErnest Miller Hemingway was an American author and journalist. His economic and understated style had a strong influence on 20th-century fiction, while his life of adventure and his public image influenced later generations. Hemingway produced most of his work between the mid-1920s and the...
's world famous short story The Snows of KilimanjaroThe Snows of Kilimanjaro"The Snows of Kilimanjaro" is a short story by Ernest Hemingway. It was first published in Esquire magazine in 1936. It was republished in The Fifth Column and the First Forty-Nine Stories in 1938, The Snows of Kilimanjaro and Other Stories in 1961, and is included in The Complete Short Stories of...
, the story's main character, writer Harry, stays at Pera Palas hotel while serving in the military during the allied occupation of ConstantinopleConstantinopleConstantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
(IstanbulIstanbulIstanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
) in World War IWorld War IWorld War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.