Stepping into the biggest and oldest palace in the whole world makes one feel like being in an animation. To experience this feeling, I suggest you go to Topkapi Palace in Istanbul. The building, which was the residence of ambitious courtiers and cunning eunuchs during the Ottoman rule, is now one of the must-see places in Istanbul.
Where is Topkapi Palace?
This charming and magical palace is one of the most beautiful sights in Turkey, which is built on the highest point of the foothills, which is directly opposite the Sea of Marmara. It takes about 50 minutes to go from Istanbul Ataturk Airport to Topkapi Palace. Other important tourist attractions such as Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Hagia Sophia and Basilica Reservoir are also built near this palace.
The best time to visit Topkapi Palace
Be careful not to plan to go to Istanbul’s Topkapi Palace on Tuesdays, because this palace is closed on Tuesdays, but the rest of the week is ready to welcome you. Topkapi Palace is open from 9 am to 5:30 pm.
Since Topkapi Palace is surrounded by gardens and green areas, the spring season is more spectacular than any other time. And that’s exactly why this season Istanbul is more crowded and everything is more expensive; So, if you want to see Topkapi Palace in a quieter and cheaper time, the cold seasons are the best option.
Istanbul Topkapi Palace – tourismassist
Access route to Topkapi Palace
The easiest way to go to Sultan Mehmed Palace is to use the public transportation system (tram, metro or bus) that goes there from the European part of Istanbul. Gulhane and Sultan Ahmed stations are the closest stations to Topkapi Palace Museum, which will take you there within five minutes.
Architecture of Topkapi Palace
The architectural style of Istanbul’s Topkapi Palace is nested, and you have to pass through four courtyards to see its different parts. I suggest that upon entering this palace, you first look up to be enchanted by its architecture and ceiling carvings. This is where you wish your ceiling was like this so that you can fall asleep staring at it every night.
Different parts of Topkapi Palace
If you want to visit this historical palace and historical attraction of Istanbul, it is better to familiarize yourself with the different parts of this palace first.
The first yard
The first courtyard, which is also called the outer courtyard, is the largest courtyard of this palace. During the Ottoman Empire, any unarmed person could enter the palace through this courtyard and the imperial gate. The open space of this courtyard was probably a place for various religious and cultural ceremonies. You can see and enjoy the works of artists, painters, architects and craftsmen in every corner of this yard.
Photo from: Google Maps site
The second yard
The second courtyard or the middle gate led to the second court of the palace, which was the place where the imperial administration was carried out. During the Ottoman period, this gate was only for the Sultan and his family, who entered it on horseback, but the rest of the military and ministers had to dismount and then pass through the gate.
The second place is the Imperial Parliament Council Hall between the 15th and 19th centuries. The last one is the sultan’s harem, that is, the place where the wives of the sultan’s family lived. After seeing these sections, you can enter the third courtyard garden.
Photo from: Google Maps site
The third yard
The third yard, which is also called the Gate of Happiness, was for the Sultan’s private residence, where a school was also built, and many great celebrations were held in this gate. But no one had the right to pass through this gate without permission, and only the Sultan himself and his family members had the right to travel through it.
A series of strict rituals were used to enter this yard; For example, no one had the right to make eye contact with the sultan and they should not talk to him directly. They had to lower their heads and look at the ground, and to talk to the Sultan, they had to say their words to his translator.
There are two other important parts about this section that you should not miss; One is the religious section where you can see the properties of the prophets, the old parts of the Kaaba in Mecca and religious decorations. The second most important part is the imperial treasury, when you see it, you understand the power and glory of the sultans who rule over a third of the world.
Photo from: Google Maps site
The fourth yard
The extension of the third courtyard reaches the fourth courtyard of the palace; A place full of terraced gardens, pavilions and magnificent mansions. Each of these rooms was for a specific task; For example, the circumcision room of the Shah’s sons, the Baghdad mansion, the Yerevan mansion, the Sufi mansion, all of which overlook unique views.
One of the most famous buildings in the fourth courtyard is the golden and bronze iftar pavilion, where the sultans would break their fast there if Ramadan was in the summer. Many Ottoman sultans were fond of flowers and gardening, and for this reason, the gardens of the fourth courtyard are full of tulips; In the same way as it was during the reign of the Ottomans.
Photo from: Wikipedia
Harem Sera
The harem was built by Shah Murad III. To go there, you have to enter it from the second courtyard. At that time, in order to enter and leave the harem, the residents of the palace had to pass through the royal gate, which was protected and controlled by eunuchs. Eunuchs were slaves who were bought from the market and circumcised before puberty; Their main duty was to maintain and protect the harem in exchange for a salary.
Photo from: Wikipedia
Islamic Museum
Another attraction of Istanbul’s Topkapi Palace is the hall where religious objects related to the era of the Prophet and Mecca are kept. At that time, Sultan Selim used to travel to places like Cairo, Medina, Mecca and Baghdad to collect these valuable objects and transfer them to his palace in Istanbul.
The interesting thing about this hall is that during all the years of the Ottoman rule, the Quran was read inside it; Even now, when the museum is open, you can hear the recitation of the Quran.
Photo from: Google Map
Majidieh Palace of Istanbul Topkapi Palace
This palace was built by the governor of Egypt to show loyalty to Sultan Abdul Majid Osmani around 1845 and gave it to him as a gift. This palace was mostly used for hunting and meetings of Ottoman sultans; But no one lived in it for long.
After the end of World War, this building was left to itself and after some time it became an orphanage. A little later, it became a place for refugees after the war. Years later, it was rebuilt and now it is considered a part of Topkapi Palace Museum.
Photo from: Google Map
Sultan Ahmed III Library
Imagine entering an old library with unique architecture, where there are about 18,000 old books. Walking in this space, you will smell the smell of old papers and the smell of dusty pages of these books. These books are seen in various miniatures, paintings and manuscripts.
Apart from this valuable library, the largest painting collection in the world is kept in this library, which includes the works of the most prominent painters of the Safavid era. Even in this library, you can find thousands of books written in Persian and related to the Safavid era.
Photo from: Wikipedia
Amenities of Topkapi Palace
Istanbul Topkapi Palace has the usual access ways to enter; But due to its cobbled floor, it may be a bit difficult for those who enter the palace with a wheelchair. There is no parking in the palace itself; But you can park your car outside the palace. Do not forget that photography is prohibited inside the museum halls.
History of Topkapi Palace
Istanbul’s Topkapi Palace was built a few years after the conquest of Constantinople by order of Sultan Mehmed II. He moved to this palace in 1478 and stayed there until his death. During the six-hundred-year Ottoman Empire, about thirty sultans managed the affairs of the country from inside this palace and added to its size and architectural style.
Istanbul’s Topkapi Palace, full of magnificent mansions and palaces in Istanbul, was the home of the Ottoman sultans for nearly four centuries and was opened as a museum about a century ago.
A 500-year-old building that is really worth seeing not only for its magnificent architecture but also for its undeniable cultural and historical values. This building is the first palace built in the Ottoman period and is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The most important reason for attracting tourists here is that it is known as the largest and oldest palace in the world.
Istanbul’s Topkapi Palace is also of special importance to Muslims; Because souvenirs of the Prophet are kept in this museum. Istanbul’s Topkapi Palace was built by Sultan Mehmed II from 1466 to 1478 on a small peninsula. This building was known as the political center of the Ottoman Empire for about four centuries until the construction of Delma Baghche Palace.
In general, since the first day of construction of Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, more than 4 thousand people lived in it. It took nearly four centuries to add Delmabaghche Palace to this building.
The reason for naming Topkapi Palace
Istanbul’s Topkapi Palace was called the New Palace of Amera when it was built. Sultan Muhammad II chose it as the new imperial palace with the aim of creating a distinction between this palace and the old palace of Constantinople. With the passage of time and the arrival of the 19th century, the name of Yen Kakh was changed to Topkapi (Tupqapo in Turkish).
At that time, war cannons were displayed in front of the gate of this palace; For this reason, it was called Topkapi, which means the gate of balls.
Photo from: Google Maps
Recommendations for visiting Topkapi Palace
The important point when visiting the beauty of Topkapi Palace in Istanbul is that the use of carriages in the palace is prohibited. And another important point is that it is necessary to wear clothes, especially when visiting the religious and sacred artefacts section; So try to avoid wearing summer dresses or short skirts.
Most importantly, don’t forget to take a camera so that you can take a memorable photo of the beauty of this palace. But taking pictures inside the halls and museums of the palace is prohibited, and you can only take pictures of the outside space and courtyards. And we also said that the museum is closed on religious and official holidays.
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