Here stands a testament to time. The Pera Palace Hotel. It is more than a building. It is a living chronicle of Istanbul’s vibrant past.
The Pera Palace Hotel began its journey in 1895. It was designed to host passengers of the Orient Express. This luxurious train connected Paris to Istanbul. Imagine travelers arriving after an eighty-hour journey. They needed a place of equal elegance.
The Pera Palace Hotel was the first in Turkey with European standards. It was a brilliant building in Istanbul. The hotel was the first in the Ottoman Empire with electricity other than the Ottoman Palaces. It also had hot running water for guests. The Pera Palace Hotel housed Istanbul’s first electric lift. A lift boy offered deluxe assistance. Famous guests enjoyed the ascending cage. Zsa Zsa Gabor and Ernest Hemingway appreciated this fun.
Designed by Alexander Vallaury, the Pera Palace Hotel blended neoclassical, art nouveau, and oriental styles. Vallaury also designed the Ottoman Bank Headquarters and the Istanbul Archaeology Museum.
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk stayed at the Pera Palace Hotel many times since 1917. He hosted top-level guests here. Room 101 is now a museum. It preserves the memory of Atatürk. He stayed here often between December 1915 and October 1917. In 1981, it became a museum. His personal items are displayed. Ebony chairs, oriental carpets and a silk prayer rug are there. The room was renovated in dawn pink. This was Atatürk’s favorite color.
Agatha Christie also frequented Pera Palace Hotel from 1926 to 1932. Room 411 is now the Agatha Christie Room. She seemingly wrote “Murder on the Orient Express” here. A key was found in room 411. Some say it unlocks secrets of her 11 missing days.
The Pera Palace Hotel hosted the first art exhibition in Istanbul. It was held here. The first New Year ball in Istanbul was at Pera Palace Hotel on New Year’s Eve 1925. The hotel’s kitchen served many firsts. It was the first to use curry spices in the Ottoman Empire. The first turtle soup was cooked here.
Many influential names have stayed at the Pera Palace Hotel. These include Shah Reza Pehlevi. Also King Edward VIII and Jacqueline Kennedy.
Ernest Hemingway wrote in the Orient Bar. Greta Garbo cherished her days here. She daydreamed watching Istanbul.
The Pera Palace Hotel is a museum-hotel. It is full of memories. The Greta Garbo suite is decorated with silks and roses. The Ernest Hemingway suite is filled with his books. The Pierre Loti suite overlooks the Golden Horn.
In 2010, Pera Palace Hotel reopened after a major restoration. It preserved the original architecture. Since 1983, it is part of Turkey’s cultural heritage.
The Pera Palace Hotel stands overlooking the Golden Horn. It encapsulates the best Istanbul offers. Its story extends from past to future. It grows even more glorious.