The Pera Palace Hotel—or the Pera Palas Oteli, in Turkish—is a world-famous hotel located in the Beyoglu (Pera) district in Istanbul, Turkey. The Pera Palace officially opened in 1892. A Belgian rail travel company, the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits et des Grands Express Européens, built the hotel to host passengers of the Orient Express, a luxury train with non-stop service from Paris to Istanbul.
The Hotel’s Architecture and Interior Design
A French-Arab architect, Alexander Vallaury (1850-1921), designed the Pera Palace using a mixture of orientalist, rococo, and neoclassical styles reminiscent of other late Ottoman buildings. The hotel has six floors and approximately 145 guest rooms, many of which offer a spectacular view of the Golden Horn. Its grand entrance, marble floors, and celebrated Orient Express Bar count among the hotel’s most memorable features. The Pera Restaurant, a posh eatery where one can sample an exquisite selection of Turkish cuisine, is located on the ground floor. In the late nineteenth century, a birdcage elevator was installed in the lobby, which was the first electric elevator in Istanbul. The hotel’s furniture, décor, and spacious bathrooms are kept as traditional as possible, to preserve the original character.
A Rich History
The Pera Palace Hotel survived the end of the Ottoman Empire, the founding of the Turkish Republic, and two world wars. After 1918, occupying forces moved into the hotel and set up their headquarters. In late 1922, following Istanbul's liberation by the Turkish nationalist movement (under Mustafa Kemal Atatürk), the British gave "the key to Istanbul" to the soon-to-be Turkish president at this hotel.
Ownership and management of the Pera Palace changed hands numerous times throughout the twentieth century. In 1977, a Turkish investor named Hasan Süzer—along with the Istanbul Hotel and Tourism Association—rescued the hotel from a state of neglect and eventually spent millions on renovations. In 2006, the hotel was closed for yet another restoration project, which is scheduled to be completed in late 2009.
An Illustrious Guestbook
Since 1892, the Pera Palace has accommodated royalty, diplomats, and artists from all over the world. Notable guests include Atatürk, the founder of the Turkish Republic, whose room is now kept as a museum with the original furniture and objects. Other prominent visitors were Franz Joseph I of Austria and Nicholas II of Russia. Mata Hari, Jacqueline Onassis, Ernest Hemingway, Alfred Hitchcock, Sarah Bernhardt, Renée Vivien, and Greta Garbo also stayed at the hotel. British mystery novelist Agatha Christie was a frequent guest and her room is now preserved in her honor. It is rumored that she wrote the 1933 classic Murder on the Orient Express at the Pera Palace.
Before closing for renovations, the Pera Palace was known for its nostalgic charm, rather than its creature comforts. However, recent improvements and current renovations promise to bring the hotel more up to par with its five-star counterparts. With a century-old tradition of excellence, the Pera Palace seems likely to achieve its modernization goals while sustaining its Gilded Age grandeur.
 |
 |
