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The Pera Palas made
a great change in the landscape of Istanbul. Designed by the
French architect Alexander Vallaury, also the architect of
Union Francaise And the Ottoman Bank was begun in May 1881;
the hotel was opened October 1891. It is said that Sultan
Abdulhamit attended the opening ceremony. The "Compagnie
Internationale dés Wagons et des Grands Express Européens"
had built the hotel for the use of passengers coming from
Paris to Istanbul. This is why the symbols of the Pera palas
and the orient express are the same.
From the time of its opening until today, Pera palas had been
frequented by well-known and highly-placed figures in the
political world; such as Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, Ismet Inonu,
Celal Bayar, Adnan Menderes, Fahri Koruturk, Refik Koraltan,
King Zogo of Albania, Shah Riza Pehlevi of Iran, King Edward
V111 of England , King Ferdinand of Bulgaria, King Carol of
Romania, president Tito of Yugoslavia and Jacqueline Kennedy.
The long list of political guests includes Giscard d'Estaing,
Von Papen, Mata Hari Cicero. The list also includes innumerable
names from the world of culture and art such as Agatha Christie,
Yehudi Menuhin, Marie Bell.
Those who know the story of Agatha
Christie will remember that she was missing for eleven
days in 1926, and that she wrote she had hidden a key in connection
with the mystery. On the seventh of march in 1979 a rusty
iron key was found in room 411 at the Pera Palas, but still
the mystery has not been solved. In 1897, Seker
Ahmet Pasa, a prominent painter had a major exhibition
at the hotel.
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After the First War, occupying forces used
the Pera Palas as their head quarters.
After the occupation, the British gave "the
key to Istanbul" back to Celal Bayar in this hotel,
where Ismet Inonu stayed during the armistice talks.
The dancing and beauty competition of the Fashion Revue
was first arranged in the Pera Palas salons. The most
select balls were held there. For feasts special menus were
prepared and wine and champagne flowed like water.
It should be mentioned that Pera Palas had been awarded
with several medals and a Diploma of Honor.
According to Haldun Taner, the famous writer, it was the beloved
hotel of the elite of Istanbul and the passengers of the Orient
Express.
The step by step history of the Pera
Palas is quite interesting. By the end of the 19th
century, the hotel had the first electric elevator in
Istanbul and its primitive generator served surrounding buildings
as well.
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In 1915, Petros Bodosaki, the Greek
windmill owner visited the hotel. He was turned away due to
his poor looks. He got angry enough to buy the hotel. In 1919,
Bodosaki turned over the management to his son Haci Toma Anastasiadis.
Due to his tax debt, the hotel was then auctioned and the
state took up the management in 1923, This is how Pera Palas
became functional again. Since then, it holds the title of
"the oldest European Hotel of Turkey."
After 1923, Misbah Muhayyes, who gave much to Ataturk
during the Syrian campaign, received a letter of thanks from
Ataturk who upon Muhayyes's wish honored him with Turkish
citizenship and also gave the management of the hotel.
He wrote a will which stipulated that the income of 6th enterprise
be divided between philanthropic constitutions. In 1963, trustees
left the management entirely to these organizations after
forming the Istanbul Hotel Management and Tourism Trading
company.
Towards the end of 1977, a businessman from Gaziantep, Hasan
Suzer, bought the 60% share and became the Chairman of the
Board of Directors and shortly after bought up the remaining
shares.
Pera Palas was renewed from
top to bottom under the management of Hasan Suzer without
destroying the historic qualities.
There can be no doubt that Pera Palas, which lived
through the Ottoman decline, the founding of the Republic,
two world wars and changing political, social and economic
conditions will become the scene of new romances and scenarios
in the future...
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BOOKING
| Reserve |
Period |
Description |
Price |
| reserve |
3/16/2005
to
7/31/2005
|
Single Room. Cannot be immediately confirmed. Confirmation to follow within 24 hours.
|
$
98
|
| reserve |
3/16/2005
to
7/31/2005
|
Double Room. Cannot be immediately confirmed. Confirmation to follow within 24 hours.
|
$
115
|
| reserve |
8/1/2005
to
10/31/2005
|
Single Room. Cannot be immediately confirmed. Confirmation to follow within 24 hours.
|
$
104
|
| reserve |
8/1/2005
to
10/31/2005
|
Double Room. Cannot be immediately confirmed. Confirmation to follow within 24 hours.
|
$
127
|
| reserve |
11/1/2004
to
12/26/2004
|
Single Room Cannot be immediately confirmed. Confirmation to follow within 24 hours.
|
$
58
|
| reserve |
11/1/2004
to
12/26/2004
|
Double Room Cannot be immediately confirmed. Confirmation to follow within 24 hours.
|
$
69
|
| reserve |
12/27/2004
to
1/3/2005
|
Single Room Cannot be immediately confirmed. Confirmation to follow within 24 hours.
|
$
104
|
| reserve |
12/27/2004
to
1/3/2005
|
Double Room Cannot be immediately confirmed. Confirmation to follow within 24 hours.
|
$
127
|
| reserve |
1/4/2005
to
3/15/2005
|
Single Room Cannot be immediately confirmed. Confirmation to follow within 24 hours.
|
$
58
|
| reserve |
1/4/2005
to
3/15/2005
|
Double Room Cannot be immediately confirmed. Confirmation to follow within 24 hours.
|
$
69
|
| Note: All above rates include buffet
breakfast and 18% VAT. |
 Click on Reserve button to make Hotel Reservation.
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