Famous Guests Of Pera Palace Hotel… Alfred Hitchcock
Places also have a spirit; Especially those who have a history… Because such places, as important witnesses of their history, they succeed to challenge time for many years. Pera Palace Hotel is among the places that correspond to this description. The story of Pera Palace Hotel, which was opened to host the precious guests of the famous Orient Express in the heart of Istanbul at the end of the 19th century, is, in fact, the story of history in itself.
When the world-famous Orient Express, which made its first voyage in 1883 and carried the prominent names of the period, started to make the Paris-Istanbul expedition, there was no luxury hotel in Istanbul that was capable of hosting these important people. The company that owns the Orient Express, precisely for this reason, built Pera Palace Hotel, Europe’s most luxurious hotel, the first in Turkey to have the European standards. Pera Palace Hotel started to welcome its first guests in 1895 with an impressive opening ball.
The Pera Palace Hotel had a luxury concept that could only be found in the palaces like Orient Express. As one of the most magnificent buildings of Istanbul, the hotel was the only building with electricity power provided beside the Ottoman palaces, the first to have the electric elevator and the first to have hot water. The first painting exhibition of Istanbul, the first Christmas ball was held here; Many of the world’s most famous names like Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, İsmet İnönü, Agatha Christie, Ernest Hemingway, Greta Garbo and Alfred Hitchcock have stayed here many times.
Since the day it was opened, it was preferred by many influential names such as foreign government leaders and politicians who visited Istanbul; The world-famous director Alfred Hitchcock was one of the most important names who made his way to Pera Palace Hotel, which is the subject of numerous books and films.
Alfred Hitchcock, a British filmmaker, “The Master of Suspense”, was born in London and originally studied engineering. With his entry into the movie industry, he made a serious appearance and soon became known to the world with acclaimed films like Psycho, North by Northwest, Vertigo and The Birds.
Alfred Hitchcock, one of the best directors of all time with his unique works, was one of the people to pass through Pera Palace Hotel. The genius director stayed at the Pera Palace Hotel, like many famous names during his trip to Istanbul. It is known that the successful director always spent time at the hotel’s bar section, Orient Bar, during his stay…
