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Topkapi Palace

Topkapi Palace is situated just north of Haghia Sophia. This imperial palace was once considered to be the hub of Ottoman power for nearly three centuries. It is undoubtedly a rival to Granada’s Alhambra due to fabulous setting and luxurious decorations.

If you want to fully explore and enjoy this palace, you will need at least half day. However, if you are short of time but don’t want to miss the important elements of this palace, then do visit Imperial Treasury, the Harem and the views of the palace from the innermost courtyard as well as from the fourth courtyard.

The main entry to this palace is through the tastefully decorated Imperial Gate, built in 1478 by the Sultan Fatih. While walking through this gate, you are lead into the first of the four courts that seem to be more private as you move further into the building. The First Court was not considered to be a part of the Topkapi Palace as it was public. Known by the name of Court of the Janissaries, this court served as dormitories and a hospital for the guards of the palace.

On the left side is the Hagia Eirene Church (The church of the Holy Peace) commonly known as the Haghia Irene church that was made by Justinian and considered to be Haghia Sophia’s contemporary. This happens to be the only pre-Ottoman-conquest church in Istanbul that was not converted into a mosque. Presently, the church remains closed for almost all the time. However, it serves as a venue for a concert during the International Istanbul Music Festival.

The wonderful Archaeological Museum is also situated within the First Court. However, the Disenyesque Gate is the proper entrance for the palace. The ticket counter is located just on the right side besides the Executioner’s Fountain. During the earlier times, the truncated columns of the fountain displayed heads of the victims of the Executioner.

As you reach the Second Court, you will be welcomed by rose bushes and sprawling gardens where the divans of the imperial council were held. In fact, the whole business of the empire was carried out in the huge Second Court. This place was jostling with activity and was full of petitioners waiting for their turn in the earlier times. And now, it has people standing in queues waiting to step inside to discover the beauty of this semi-public place. Harem comprises of exotic tiled chambers which you can reach not before waiting for at least half an hour accompanied by an official guide. You can buy the entry tickets from the window besides the Harem entrance.

Just near the ticket counter at the Harem entrance, you will be greeted by the former State Treasury which now serves as a place for exhibiting arms and armour. You will come across huge kitchens just across the gardens that served nearly 5,000 residents of the palace. These kitchens now have a wide collection of Chinese and Japanese glassware, silverware and ceramics imported through Central Asia. Among the collection is the Chinese celadon that was very dear to the sultans because it changed its color as soon as it was mixed with poison.

Next destination is the Third Court that was the private place of Sultan. Towards the right is the Hall of the Campaign Pages or Seferli Kogusu. The hall was meant to preserve the royal wardrobe and it did so perfectly. As you move next door, you come across the Imperial Treasury where you will be amazed by the glittering yet useless collection of items like Topkapi Dagger, a set of diamond-plated chain mail or even three emeralds in eyeball size.

Finally, as you enter the sublime Fourth Court, you are greeted by a beautiful garden with terraces that lead you down towards the Seraglio Point. You will be smitten by the views over the Bosphorus equally as by the cool sea breeze on a hot summer day. The last building built within the palace is the Mecidiye Pavilion that serves as a café and a restaurant.