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For
the journalists and intellectual dissidents sentenced to a prison term
in this building, a period of incarceration was something to brag about
-- and it still is, albeit for different reasons.
After
a long period of neglect, this Turkish neoclassical building located in
the heart of Sultanahmet was converted from a prison into a five-star
hotel, with much of the original marble and tile recycled into its
present-day, elegant design. The saffron exterior is a bit severe, but
the contrast within couldn't be greater.
Rooms
have elegant furniture all purchased locally; the architect even stayed
true to tradition by applying paint as they did in the Ottoman palaces
-- with a spatula. The opulent and luxurious bathrooms, all with
separate toilet cabin, present a formidable amount of competition for
time spent sightseeing, and the king-size beds are amazingly comfy.
Almost
all of the rooms have views of something fabulous.
Facilities:
Restaurant; 2 bars; fitness room; Jacuzzi; sauna; shopping arcade;
24-hr. room service; laundry service; dry cleaning; nonsmoking rooms. |
