The beautiful Beylerbeyi Palace was built as a summer palace for the Ottoman dynasty. It was also used as a State Guest House. Among many European Royal guests who were hosted here, one of them was the protagonist of a love affair that did not deem religion and nationality as obstacles.
The National Palaces Painting Museum in Istanbul is house to the Ottoman Imperial Painting Collection. Ottoman interest in Western art and culture increased parallel to the Westernisation movement in the country that was initiated by the Sultans in the 19th century. While collecting paintings from Europe, the Sultans also employed foreign court painters to enlarge their collections. Some of these Sultans and, especially the last Caliph, Abdülmecit Efendi, were painters themselves and participated in painting exhibitions, in Istanbul and abroad.