Topkapi Palace - a treasure trove of legends and secrets
The greatest city in the world, Istanbul, preserves and protects the luxurious and world famous Topkapi Palace... In translation, the palace is "Cannon Gates".
Many books, films, even operas took place here. A lot is connected with it fascinating stories and incredible secrets, the number of which is perhaps more than that of all the royal residences of the world put together. This is about 7 thousand square meters, passions and forgotten stories.
Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, these are amazing Iznik tiles, magnificent paintings, gurgling fountains.
And it is also a long pipe through which leather sacks with the guilty inhabitants of the harem sewn into them were thrown into the Bosphorus ...
These are palace coups, conspiracies and murders. This is the place where the life of Sultan Selim the Drunkard passed, who drowned in the bathhouse after drinking too much Cypriot wine, and Sultan Ibrahim the Mad, who lost his mind after having spent 22 years in a golden cage on the orders of his brother Murat IV, this is the place where life passed amazing Roksolana, who became a Sultan's concubine from a Ukrainian powerless slave, but, having overcome innumerable obstacles, the concubine becomes the beloved wife of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, leaving an ambiguous mark in the history of mankind.
The name "Cannon Gate" comes from the tradition of making an honorable cannon salvo at the entrance and exit of the Sultan from the palace.
Sasha Mitrakhovich 09.09.2015 19:18
Topkapi Palace- this is the most important thing. It's like or. This is a kind of city within a city, fraught with countless secrets and intrigues. From here the Ottoman sultans ruled over half of the world and great things were done here.
The Topkapi Palace Museum is located at the extreme point of the peninsula, which is washed on all sides by the waters and. It is securely ringed with a fortress wall and towers with unforgettable shapes.
For several centuries, Topkapi Palace was the seat of the Ottoman sultans. And since 1924, it became known as a palace-museum and opened the gates to tourists from all over the world, the flow of which is increasing from year to year.
Sasha Mitrakhovich 09.09.2015 19:18
Topkapi Palace is a whole city that is located on the territory of Istanbul. The complex is twice the size of the area.
There were times when up to 50 thousand people lived on its territory and palaces had their own mosques, zoos, baths.
Initially, Topkapi was built to perform government functions that can be compared to the Duma or Parliament. Here the Sultan conferred with his officials about external or internal political problems.
But already in the 16th century, the sultan Suleiman the Magnificent he settled his large harem in the palace and active development of the complex began.
In total Topkapi lived 24 sultans. And in the 19th century, another sultan erected a most picturesque palace for himself on the shores of the Bosphorus and moved from the palace complex.
Sasha Mitrakhovich 09.09.2015 19:56
This beautiful complex was built for a very long time - over several centuries. It began during the reign of Sultan Mehmet II in 1462, and each of the subsequent sultans added their own buildings to the complex.
During the construction, they did not adhere to any projects, they simply built each new building, based on their own priorities, and this form of buildings gives Topkapi an attractiveness and originality.
Topkapi has four main courtyards, which are separated by a monumental gate. Only the Sultan had the right to ride through the Imperial Gate on horseback, everyone else walked under this arch on foot.
In the second courtyard, there is the Welcome Gate, which, due to its structure (low arches), made everyone passing by to bow their head. The Blessed Gate leads to the third courtyard. It was believed that the proximity to the Sultan gives the subjects unearthly grace.
In the first courtyard there were outbuildings, which housed the barracks of the Janissaries.
Unlike ancient visitors, modern tourists can freely enter the most interesting part of Topkapi - harem.
Looking at these huge and luxurious buildings, which combined a wide variety of styles and cultures, there is an understanding of how great the power of the Ottoman sultans was: for more than 600 years the Ottoman Empire extended to three parts of the world - Europe, Asia and Africa.
Sasha Mitrakhovich 10.09.2015 09:22
A harem is a whole complex of buildings that are surrounded by a high wall.
When the sultans moved to the more spacious and corresponding to their status, the newly built Topkapi palace, the harem in Topkapi did not move, but continued to remain in its backyards in the “Tiled Palace” or “Tiled kiosk” - “Repaired Keshk”, built in 1472 by Mehmed the Conqueror.
For the first few decades, Topkapi was, so to speak, only the working office of the sultans, and their wives and concubines lived separately, albeit nearby, in "Repaired keshk". And that was the norm for the Ottomans.
Roxolana- the beloved concubine of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, it was she who went from a slave to Sultanshi Hurrem, was able to achieve a move to the Topkapi Palace in order to be constantly next to the Sultan.
It was the construction of the harem complex in the second and third courtyards of Topkapi in the 16th century that became the most significant change in the layout of this palace structure since the initial construction.
As a result, gradually the entire harem moved to this new palace, and the wives and concubines of the deceased sultans began to be exiled to the old one.
The former building of the old harem - "Tiled Palace" - the kiosk "Repaired keshk", and now it is located on the outskirts of the Topkapi palace complex (its first courtyard).
Since the premises of the harem were completed, added and rebuilt, it does not have a single style or appearance. More than 400 rooms, built in different centuries, differ in style and content.
On the territory of the harem there is a swimming pool, a hospital, two mosques, eight Turkish baths and four huge kitchens. In the exposition of the museum you can see a whole collection of expensive jewelry, outfits and clothes worn by the concubines.
Before the one whose foot steps into harem, threatened the death penalty... Such strict rules were not only because the women of the Sultan lived there, but also because they were to protect his numerous children and heir, including those who lived with their mothers, from danger.
Not only Muslims find a lot of interesting things in visiting the palace. Jews and Christians will find numerous relics here: the brazier of Abraham, the relics of John the Baptist, the staff of Moses and the sword of King David.
Topkapi is considered one of the most visited places in Istanbul.
Sasha Mitrakhovich 10.09.2015 09:31
It is worth briefly telling about the hierarchy that reigned in the harem, "Subordination" reigned there paramilitary.
The notorious odalisques - odalyk - were just servants who could not even dream of sharing a bed with the ruler. Girls who were more fortunate became ikbal.
The ikbal, which the Sultan liked, and which was summoned to the master for the second time, exposed herself to terrible danger: the Haseks, the Sultan's wives, who bore him a son, jealously watched her.
Each of the Haseki, in turn, fought for her son to ascend the throne. Everything went into business: from denunciation to dagger and poison. The losers ended up in a leather bag at the bottom of the Bosphorus.
The lucky Haseki, whose son did become the Sultan, passed into the rank of Valide-Sultan - “mother of the Sultan” - and turned into the main woman of the whole harem and not only: at the end of the 16th century, for example, the powerful Valide actually ruled the empire instead of their worthless sons - drunkards or madmen.
That is, the main in the harem was not a beloved concubine and not even the notorious "beloved wife." And the one who was lucky enough to be the mother of the current sultan.
Sasha Mitrakhovich 10.09.2015 09:54
Topkapi Palace Plan: Designations of objects on the plan:
Topkapi Palace Second Courtyard - Meydana Sofa
1. Gate of Greetings or Bab-yus Selam (Entrance to the Second Courtyard of Topkapi Palace - Entrance to the Museum)
2. Hall of the Divan or Divan-i Humayun (Kubbealty) - Hall for meetings of the veziers (ministers)
3. Tower of Justice (Adalet Kulesi) - The tallest building of the Topkapi Palace, which rises above the Divan building.
4. Mosque and hamam Beshir Agha
5. Sultan's stables - nowadays the building is used to organize various exhibitions
6. Entrance to the Harem - for a fee
7 - 8 - 9 Kitchen in Topkapi Palace - nowadays the exhibition of Chinese Japanese and European porcelain is one of the largest collections of Chinese porcelain in the world.
10. Gate of Happiness or Gate of Bliss / Gate of White Eunuchs (Bab-i Saadet)
Harem of Topkapi Palace - Harem-i Humayun
11. Yard of the Sultan's mother (Valide Sultan Tashlygy) in Harem
12. Courtyard of the Chosen or the Courtyard of Favorites (Gozdeler Tashligy) in Harem
Third Courtyard of Topkapi Palace - Enderun Avlusu
13. Audience Hall or Throne Room (Arz Odasy) hall where foreign delegations and ambassadors were received
14. Library of Sultan Ahmed III
15. Chamber of Campaigns or Chamber of Pages (Seferli Kogushu) - Collection of Sultan's outfits
16. Topkapi Treasury (Enderun Khazinesi) - Here you can see the golden sultan's thrones, the "Kashikchi Diamond" and the famous "Topkapi Dagger"
17. Pavilion of the Sacred Mantle and Holy Relics
18. Chamber of the Sultan's personal pages (Khas Oda Kogushu) - Exhibition of Sultan's portraits
19. Topkapi Palace Library (formerly Agalar Mosque) Agalar Mosque
Fourth Courtyard of Topkapi Palace - Sofa-i Humayun
The entrance to the fourth courtyard of Topkapi Palace is not through massive gates, as in other courtyards, because this courtyard served more as a place for rest.
20. Summer Palace of Abdul-Majid (pavilion Mejidiye)
21. Sofa Mosque
22. Tower of Khekimbashy (Khekimbashy Kulesi) - dwelling and laboratory of the chief doctor
23. The building of the wooden pavilion Sofa (Sofa Köshk)
24. Yerevan Pavilion or Summer Palace Revan (Revan Koshk)
25. Marble Terrace and Circumcision Hall (Sünnet Odası)
26. Gazebo Iftariye (Gazebo with a beautiful view of the Golden Horn, where the sultans dined during Ramadan)
27. Baghdad Pavilion or Summer Palace Bagdat (Bagdat Koshk)
Sasha Mitrakhovich 10.09.2015 14:19
Entrance to Topkapi - 20 liras.
Entrance to the Harem - 15 lire. Audio guide - 20 TL.
At the entrance to Topkapi, the frame is like in the airport, but at least you don't take your shoes off, the bag is also visible through. They may ask to open it.
In the most interesting places, the treasury, the caftan pavilion and the pavilion of Muslim relics, photographing is prohibited.
Museum opening hoursTopkapi:
In Spring, Summer and Autumn:
from 15 April to 1 November: every day, except Tuesdays, from 9.00 to 18.45.
Better to come to the opening, 9 o'clock. By 11 a.m. there are too many visitors, buses with groups are arriving.
Sasha Mitrakhovich 11.09.2015 12:43
In the picture: The official map of the Topkapi palace complex.
The palace consists of four courtyards with various buildings placed on them. All this is surrounded by walls.
On the diagram in numbers 1,9,19,28 the first, second, third and fourth courtyards are designated respectively. These courtyards from the first to the fourth were consistently less and less public.
While the first courtyard housed servants and janissaries, the second hosted official ceremonies.
In the third and fourth courtyards, the private life of the sultans and his family proceeded, as well as less ceremonial state events. For example, private negotiations.
Within the common wall surrounding the Topkapi complex, courtyards were also separated by walls with gates.
In numbers 2,8,18 the Imperial Gate, the Gate of Salutation and the Gate of Happiness are indicated respectively.
The diagram shows the various buildings of the palace complex.
By digit 3 marked the former Church of St. Irene;
5 - Archaeological Museum;
12 - Sofa Building,
13 - Tower of Justice,
14 - entrance to the harem,
15 - harem complex;
17 - kitchens;
20 - audience hall - Arz Odasi;
31 - Baghdad Pavilion.
Topkany Palace - four courtyards and a harem
The first courtyard of Topkapi - this, in general, is not the palace itself, but, so to speak, the porch to it. Despite the fact that it is located already from the inside behind the main gate.
In Sultan's times, the first courtyard housed the bakeries of the palace and the state treasury, the mint and the headquarters of the Janissaries. Now, there is also a parking lot here.
And here it survived, and all Ottoman times existed, the only fragment of Byzantium - the Church of St. Irene. This is probably the only one of the churches closed by the Ottomans that has not yet been turned into a mosque.
The Church of St. Irene under the Ottomans served for many centuries as an armory, and under the late Ottomans as a museum (first from the 19th century as an antique, then as a military one). Since 1950 it has been a concert and exhibition hall.
In the early period of Byzantium's existence, before the consecration of the Church of St. Sophia, the Church of St. Irene was the main church of the Patriarchs of Constantinople. It hosted the first ecumenical Council of Constantinople in 381.
In the neighborhood of the former Church of St. Irene, there are two interesting museums - the Archaeological Museum and the Museum of the Ancient East.
An unknown sarcophagus is exhibited in the Archaeological Museum, in which Alexander the Great was allegedly buried. The grave of Alexander the Great, as you know, has not been found; when this sarcophagus was found by a local peasant in 1887 in Lebanon, it was empty. However, the sarcophagus known as the Sidonian Sarcophagus contains images of mourners and scenes from the life of Alexander the Great: Alexander's hunt in Lebanon, and his battle with the Persian king Darius. The images made it possible to attribute the Sidonian sarcophagus to the burial of Alexander the Great.
Next to the Archaeological Museum is the so-called. "Tiled kiosk" - a palace where during the time of the first Ottoman sultans hosted a harem- specially outside Topkapi proper, and in our time there is an exhibition of tiles, porcelain and ceramics (which is part of the Archaeological Museum).
Second courtyard of the palace, separated from the first by a wall and massive gates with two towers - the "Gate of Welcome" - "Bab-us Selam", served, in contrast to the third and fourth courtyards, mainly for state and auxiliary functions.
"Bab-us Selam" was a passage to the inner part of the palace, and only one sultan could pass them on horseback, all other people visiting Topkapi dismounted.
Six roads diverge from the "Gate of Welcome" between the parks of the third courtyard. The first two paths lead to the palace kitchens, the third leads to the next of the gates - the "Gate of Happiness", the fourth to the sofa, the fifth to the harem, the sixth to the Sultan's stables.
In Sultan's times, among the trees and shrubs of the second courtyard, not only important persons who were waiting for the reception walked about, but also the fallow deer, goats and peacocks that lived here. Foreigners were usually surprised at the silence in this courtyard, despite the fact that some of the court ceremonies here were attended by up to 10,000 people.
Here, in the second courtyard, there is the Tower of Legality and the premises of the sofa. And in the shadow of the "Gate of Happiness" - "Bab-i Saadet", which led to the third courtyard, the Sultan sometimes sorted out state affairs and received some visitors. In front of these gates there was a ceremony of accession to the throne of the new Sultan, acceptance of offerings on the occasion religious holidays, announcements of the granting of titles.
Also in the second courtyard there is an exhibition of the Sultan's carriages. Many of these carriages were donated to the Sultan's court by Europeans.
And, of course, the second courtyard is famous for its huge premises - a whole town, separated from the main part of the square by intermediate buildings, a town with several dozen domed pipes, immediately striking - the Sultan's kitchens. Kitchens now display a variety of utensils, including huge cauldrons.
800-1000 chefs worked in the Sultan's kitchens at the same time. Every year 30,000 chickens, 23,000 rams, 14,000 calves were brought here. The famous Turkish architect Sinan worked on the construction of the building. The domed ceilings with ventilation openings in these kitchens are very impressive. The domed ceiling is very Ottoman, or rather the ceiling, which consists of several small domes that form a common space.
Chinese and Japanese porcelains of Turkish sultans are also exhibited in the kitchens. The collection of oriental porcelain presented in Topkapi, according to Turkish authors, is the third largest - after the Beijing and Dresden ones - of all the palace collections in the world. It has 10,700 items. Huge sets of which the sultans were very proud. In addition to oriental porcelain, there is also porcelain from Europe, including St. Petersburg.
Part of the kitchen was occupied by the Sultan's confectionery with the telling name "halvaname".
The second courtyard also houses the entrance to the Sultan's harem. On the wall at the entrance, as in an ordinary institution, there is a laconic rectangular sign with one word in large print - “Harem” (derived from the Arabic “haram” - “forbidden”). Turks call the harem "darussade" - "house of happiness".
The harem included the chambers of the Sultan "Selamlyk" (male half), and his reception rooms. All this took up 300 rooms.
Also in the harem were the chambers of the Sultan's mother - "Valide Sultan", the Sultan's wives and concubines, the premises of black eunuchs. (Black eunuchs were more willing to take into the harem than their white counterparts. It was believed that black eunuchs better defend the honor of the Sultan's wives and concubines, because in an incredible way the black children born from them would be impossible to pass off as the Sultan. mainly in Sudan, whites tolerated castration better and were less ill after it).
The harem was headed by a black eunuch and the head of black eunuchs, who was considered the fourth (if not counting the sultan) official in the Ottoman Empire, after the sultan, mother sultana, grand vizier and high priest - "sheikh-ul Islam".
The jariye slaves who got into the harem could never see the sultan. But they could become his concubines if they liked it. Then they were called - "ikbal". Some concubines could become the lawful wives of the Sultan - "Kadin Efendi". The Sultan's wife, who gave birth to his first son, was considered the first and main wife. The beloved wife bore the title "Haseki".
Two little-known facts about harem life are that in the later stages of the Ottoman Empire, parents themselves gave their daughters to the harem in the hope of moving them up the social ladder. Also in the harem there was a tradition to take orphans (sometimes up to 400 people) into the upbringing, and then, when they grew up, to provide them with a happy and profitable marriage.
Sasha Mitrakhovich 11.09.2015 12:43
The majestic, monumental and luxurious Sultan's Palace "Topkapi" (Top Kapy) in Turkey, like a magnet, attracts tourists from all over the world.
Entering there, you will plunge into the world where twenty-five Turkish sultans once lived and ruled. It is better to set aside a whole day for a trip around the palace. It will not be possible to look at it “snapped”.
Therefore, before embarking on an exciting journey through the palace, we advise you to read our article so as not to miss anything.
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History of Topkapi Palace in Istanbul
For four decades, the heart of the Ottoman Empire was Top Kapy, Turkey, the palace (photo of the harem in our article below) was ordered to be built by Sultan Mehmed. It happened in the 70s of the 15th century, but after that, the Topkapi Sultan's Palace was constantly "growing" and changing. Several mosques, a mint, hospitals and a bakery were originally built.
For the first fifty years, Top Kapa was only a working residence. The Sultan's wives lived in a harem outside the Topkapi Palace. The harem on the territory was built only during the reign of Sultan Suleiman I. One of his concubines, Roksolana, wishing to be closer to her husband, "pushed" the Sultan to a large-scale reconstruction of the palace.
Almost until the end of the 19th century, Turkish sultans lived in the palace. And only Abdul-Majid I, in 1854, decided to move to the new Dolmabahce palace. With the coming to power of the first President of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, in 1923 Topkapi became a museum, which is now visited by hundreds of tourists every day.
The name Topkapi is translated from Turkish as "cannon gate". This name of the sultans' residence was not given by chance. The first thing that falls on the eye of all visitors is the majestic gate that gives access to the heart of the castle. When the sultan entered or left the palace, a cannon shot rang out. There are also Turkey that are worthy of your attention.
Like a small city in Turkey, the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, a photo that amazes with its wealth and beauty, was equipped with everything necessary for life. It is so huge (its area is more than 170 hectares) that everything from mosques and offices of the sultans to hospitals and janissary barracks was here.
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The territory is divided into four courtyards. You can also get into each of them through the monumental gate. After passing through the main gate, you will see a huge fountain, which was built by order of the padishah Ahmed III, in 1728.
Further, through the "Shining Gate" you will find yourself in the first courtyard. Here you can see the gendarme office, various living quarters, as well as the ruins of a bakery. You should definitely visit the “Archaeological Museum” of Istanbul and the mint building. There is a church on the territory of the first courtyard.
To get to the second courtyard, you will need to go through another gate, called "Bab-i Selam". There is also a magnificent garden with cypress trees and a tower that once served as a prison for convicted dignitaries.
Of particular interest to tourists are the "Palace Kitchens". Here food was prepared for the sultans, and almost a quarter of the entire palace staff worked. Today in the halls of kitchens you can see the rarest collection of porcelain. The oldest exhibits date back to the seventh century, these are the Tang dynasty tableware. The most valuable are white porcelain items.
Topkapi Palace in Istanbul houses one of the world's largest weapon collections. For those who are interested, we advise you to take a look at the collection of Islamic frescoes and manuscripts.
The exposition of jewelry and jewelry is truly unique. Gold candlesticks, hookahs, luxurious ivory boxes, as well as the famous "Kashikchi Diamond" - these are just a small part of what you can see in the inner treasury complex.
It will not be superfluous to look at the collection of the Sultan's caftans. Clothes and silk prayer rugs are truly true works of art.
Harem deserves special attention. The high wall with which it is surrounded used to hide the concubines from the views of strangers. There was everything for a comfortable life for the Sultan's wives: two mosques, Turkish baths, kitchens and even a swimming pool. Visitors will be able to see collections of luxurious jewelry and clothing, and stroll around the fountains. Istanbul amazes with its magnificent numerous,. I would like to see all the sights, it will help you with this.
We have collected the most interesting and significant places in the Topkapi Palace, you will find photos of all the rooms of the Istanbul Palace in our selection. 
Contacts
Topkapi Palace (Topkapı)- This is a majestic palace, which for many centuries was the main building of the Ottoman Empire. It is located not far from Sultanahmet Square, on the Sarayburnu cape. It was the main residence of 25 who lived at different times in the palace of the sultans, so the palace surprises with its luxury and monumentality. It is also included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and is an important structure of Islamic and Turkish architecture. In addition, it is this place that is shrouded in the love story of Suleiman the Magnificent and the concubine of Roksolana.
Topkapi Palace does not have a well-thought-out architectural layout. At different times, the territory of the palace was modified by different rulers, and all the time something was being completed and destroyed. But, in fact, it is divided into external and internal parts. The gates of Bab-i-Humayun meet people. You don't have to pay to enter here, and you can consider the Church of St. Irene, one of the oldest in the city. In addition, there were various premises, as well as museums: archaeological and the ancient East... The second courtyard can be seen outside the Bab-us-selam gate. On the left is the Sofa Tower, and on the right was the entrance to the Harem - the luxurious dwellings of the Sultan's women. There is also a treasury, where you can see many exhibits.
The gate of the third courtyard is Bab-us-saadet. Here were not only the chambers of the Sultan, but also the chambers of his women, as well as the closed courtyards of potential heirs and the Enderun school. There is also a treasury with items made of precious metals. In the fourth courtyard there are parks, a swimming pool, a circumcision pavilion and several others, as well as the Bastala tower and the Sofa Mosque.
Topkapi Palace: How to get there
Airplane. The closest airport to Topkapi Palace is Istanbul Ataturk International Airport (Istanbul Ataturk Airport)... There you can take a taxi or order a transfer or rent a car. You can find out more about timetables and transport on the airport website.
Public transport. From the airport, Topkapi Palace can be reached by metro and tram. First, take the M1 metro to the Zeytinburnu stop ( Zeytinburnu) (6th stop). Then, change to the tram line "T1" (to "Eminonu" ( Eminönü) or "Kabatash" ( Kabataş)), and get off at the 16th stop Sultanhamet. From the airport it will take approximately 1 hour for a ticket price of less than 5 USD. The best way to move around the city - tram. This is the cheapest and most convenient option. Further from the stop, walk about 100 meters to the cape.
Taxi. You can take a taxi directly from the airport or arrange in advance. From the airport it will take about 40-50 minutes and will cost only 15 USD. Ataturk Airport Taxi Service Phone: +90 850 780 77 34, or use their website. From anywhere in the city, you can also take a low-cost taxi ride to the square or its main attractions. For example, from Taksim Square ( Taksim), where there are many hotels, you can take a taxi to Topkapi Palace for only 5-6 USD. There is also a convenient service "Taksiyle" with which you can independently calculate the cost of a taxi from your location to Topkapi Palace.
Automobile. By car from the airport, you can get there in about half an hour, through the 13-kilometer Kennedy Street ( Kennedy Avenue). The total distance is about 22 kilometers. There are other routes that will take longer. But, it would be best to use navigation from anywhere in the city to Topkapi Palace.
Topkapi Palace: Life Hacks
Topkapi Palace has its own official website, with the help of which you can familiarize yourself with the information of interest, as well as plan a visit to the attraction.
Topkapi Palace is one of the largest museums in the world. The number of exhibits in the museum is about 65,000 units, and the area of the entire palace with all courtyards, parks and outbuildings is more than 700,000 square meters. This is an amazingly beautiful and luxurious place that will allow you to experience the former greatness of the empire. The entrance to the museum is located at the gate to the second courtyard and costs about 11.5 USD. The entrance to the Harem is possible for an additional fee - about 5 USD. The palace is open every day except Tuesdays.
There are other must-see landmarks near Topkapi Palace:
Sultanahmet Square ( Sultanahmet Meydanı) Is the historical heart of Istanbul. It is located just 200 meters from the palace. The obelisks of Theodosius and Constantine rise on the square. The obelisk of Theodosius is the oldest building in the city (XVI century BC). At present, its height is about 19 meters. The height of the obelisk of Constantine is about 21 meters. Also, there is a Serpentine Column on the square, which was brought from Greece in the 5th century BC. Today, snake heads on the column can no longer be seen, the height is 5 meters. In addition, there is an unusual German fountain ( Alman Çeşmesi), which was granted by William II in honor of the close friendly relations between the countries. The main attractions of Istanbul are located around the square.
(Ayasofya), also known as Hagia Sophia, is on the same line with Topkapi Palace and ( Sultanahmet Camii). There is a museum in the Hagia Sophia, which provides an opportunity to learn the history of the temple and see various exhibits, as well as examine the cathedral itself. This is one of the most famous and visited places in the country. The cathedral is called the eighth wonder of the world due to its complex construction and different architectural styles. For a long time, the cathedral was the main temple of Orthodox Christians in the world, but then it was converted into a mosque. The temple itself amazes everyone who visits it with its beauty and grandeur. The entrance ticket costs about 11.5 USD.
Ibrahim Pasha Palace ( İbrahim Paşa Sarayı) - a unique monument of Ottoman architecture of the 16th century, which also served as a residence for viziers, then was used as an embassy, barracks and a prison. Now the building houses the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art. The museum has many sections dedicated to specific types of art (sections of calligraphy, ceramics, wood, ethnography, etc.), and the total number of exhibits is about 40 thousand. The museum is open from 9:00 am to 6:30 pm and the entrance ticket costs about 6 USD.
Updated 03/04/2019
Topkapi Palace in Istanbul is the former home of the rulers of the Ottoman Empire. The palace stands on the European side above the Golden Horn, at its confluence with the Sea of Marmara. Until 1854, sultans lived in Topkapi, it was the main palace of the country. After the construction of Dolmabahce, the palace became a haven for the widows and wives of the palace officials. Now there is a museum complex - the largest in Istanbul.
Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, I advise you to visit those who first came to the city. This is a must-see place, you can walk around the palace for 4-5 hours! Opposite the main entrance is Hagia Sophia, and the Gulhane Park is located at the western walls, so it will take a whole day to explore the surroundings. And remember - Topkapi Palace, the photos of which are not so impressive, must be watched live.
Palace history
In 1453, the army of the Ottoman Turks under the leadership of Mehmed II the Conqueror entered Constantinople. Byzantine empire fell, and on its ruins a new one appeared - the Ottoman. Sultan Mehmed II ordered to build a residence in the area of modern Beyazit Square. The Byzantines called it the Bulls Square. Nothing remained of the first complex except the Tiled Pavilion. It used to be a harem, but now it is part of the exhibition of the Istanbul Archaeological Museum.
But we are interested in the new Topkapi Sultan's Palace in Istanbul. It is located 2 kilometers east of Beyazit Square, on the site of the destroyed residence of the emperors of Byzantium. The new complex was built by Mehmed II in 1475-1478. Initially, the sultans did not live here, they only worked. In the 16th century, Sultan Suleiman I married the famous Roksolana. It was at her request that the harem was moved from the Tiled Pavilion to Topkapi - Roksolana wanted to live next to her husband.
Suleiman the Magnificent and the following sultans often renovated and completed the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul. Turkey - the Ottoman Empire at that time - considered the complex to be the main one until 1854. Since the beginning of construction, 25 sultans managed to live here with their concubines and wives. But Abdul-Majid I did not want to live in a medieval fortress and ordered a European-style residence. Baroque became the new residence of the sultans, and the wives and widows of aristocrats moved to Topkapi.
With the establishment of the republic in 1923, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk declared all the palaces of Istanbul to be museums. The ruler himself remained to live in Dolmabahce, and tourists were allowed into Topkapi. Since 1985 Topkapi Palace in Istanbul has been included in the UNESCO list.
The palace-museum occupies 700 thousand square meters, the walls around are 1.4 kilometers long - a real city within a city! Inside, there is no clear layout, as in European palaces, so you can even get lost here.
I will try to organize the chaos of Topkapi - we will start the tour with a plan of courtyards.
The palace today
Topkapi is an open-air museum, although there are also regular displays inside buildings. The palace has an outer perimeter - this is the first courtyard, and there is an inner one - the second, third and fourth courtyards. The entrance to Topkapi Palace in Istanbul is free, but this only applies to the first courtyard. Formally, the outer perimeter does not even belong to the museum, but there is also something to see here. Let's start our walk from the first yard.
First courtyard
Inside - still free - we go through the main Imperial Gate. Under the sultans, there were utility rooms and servants' houses, only ordinary people were allowed here. Now there are no more utility rooms, but architectural monuments - a former bakery, a barracks, a mint. From here you can get to the Archaeological Museum and the Topkapi Palace itself in Istanbul. A photo of the territory scheme will help you figure it out.
Inside the first courtyard stands and. The first basilica was built on this site at the beginning of the 4th century, the modern building was rebuilt after the 740 earthquake. After the arrival of the Turks, they did not convert the church into a mosque, but simply opened a warehouse of weapons here. Nowadays there is a concert hall inside, but it's worth going here for the sake of ancient interiors (quite simple, to be honest), which are more than 1200 years old!
Second courtyard
We enter the inner Topkapi Palace (Istanbul) through the Welcome Gate. Here you need to buy a ticket and go through a metal detector check. But in the past, everything was even more severe - commoners could not get into the second courtyard at all. In the inner perimeter, the Sultan communicated with the guests while the employees were doing business in the office. There was also a treasury and a kitchen for the inhabitants of the palace.
Exhibitions are now being shown on the territory of the second courtyard. If you stand with your back to the Welcome Gate, there will be a long kitchen hall on the right. Inside there is a collection of Asian porcelain and edged weapons. On the left are the stables for temporary exhibitions. Behind the stables, closer to the third courtyard, stands the Tower of Justice, the tallest building in the palace. Under the tower is the entrance to the harem, but more on that later.
Third courtyard
We pass the second courtyard along a straight alley and go out to the Gate of Happiness. Here, the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul passes into the private chambers of the Sultan. During the Ottoman Empire, this courtyard served as an audience hall, library, treasury. The sultan and his relatives lived in enderun, and the heirs to the throne were kept in shimshirlik - a courtyard with boxwood trees.
In the exposition of the museum, I especially advise you to look into the treasury. Here is kept the "Topkapi dagger", a semi-mythical weapon. According to legend, the assassins killed the brothers of the future sultan with them so that they would not prevent the heir to take the throne. On the handle of a dagger with diamonds, according to the same legend, there was a clock - to know the exact time of the murder. In total, Topkapi Palace in Istanbul contains 60 thousand exhibits! There are also unique ones:
- "Diamond Kashikchi", similar to a spoon - 86 carats!
- Fan inlaid with mother-of-pearl.
- Official sultan's seal.
- The robe of the Prophet Muhammad.
- Staff of Moses.
- Portrait of Suleiman the Magnificent.
Fourth courtyard
We will find a small passage between the treasury and the pages of the pages in the third courtyard. It leads to the fourth courtyard, where the sultan and the courtiers rested. Marvel at the pavilions and fountains on your way to the main show. Personally, I am sure that Topkapi Palace (Istanbul) is worth a visit for the view of the bay, strait and sea. After walking through the fourth courtyard, we return the same way to the exit.
Topkapi Harem
We'll stay in the second courtyard, remember about the harem? It stands, as it were, away from the main courtyards, because it is an extension. Suleiman I, especially for Roksolana, moved the harem from the Tiled Pavilion to a new complex near the palace itself. The Sultan's harem during the Ottoman Empire was one of the most closed places in the entire country. This is probably why now you will have to pay for the entrance here separately from the entire palace.
The harem is what many go to Topkapi Palace in Istanbul for. Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska, in which all the girls must take photos, include different pavilions and rooms. There is a courtyard of the Sultan's mother, a courtyard of his beloved concubines and wives, a courtyard of eunuchs, a swimming pool, secret rooms. Walk along the Golden Path - one of the concubines walked along it every night to the Sultan's chambers.
If you do not stay for a long time at each exhibit, then 3 hours will be enough for a walk around the entire complex. When you are done, exit through the Imperial Gate into the first courtyard and go around the church of St. Irene on the left. Immediately behind it there will be a path that will lead you to the Hagia Sophia Mosque - the symbol of Istanbul. If you go from the church of St. Irene to the right, you will find yourself in the spacious Gulhane park.
Useful information about Topkapi Palace
To take a photo of the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul inside, come during business hours. The complex includes the inner perimeter of the palace, the harem and the church of St. Irene. Closed on Tuesdays, the first day of Ramadan and Eid al-Adha. On other days, it works according to the schedule:
- 9: 00-16: 45 - from October 30 to April 14.
- 9: 00-18: 45 - from April 15 to October 29.
A ticket to the inner perimeter, that is, to the second, third and fourth courtyards, costs 60 Turkish liras. For the entrance to the church of St. Irene, the harem will have to pay another 30 lire, in the harem - 35 lire.
Adults can visit only the first courtyard for free. Children under 12 years old do not pay for a ticket to the Topkapi Palace itself in Istanbul and to the Church of St. Irene. Only children under 6 years old are allowed into the harem free of charge.
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Travel organization| Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Istanbul Museum Map| Topkapi
Topkapi is the main attraction of the Sultan's Istanbul. It's like Red Square in Moscow, the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the Colosseum in Rome. Topkapi Palace can be called a kind of city in a city that hides a huge number of secrets: great Ottoman affairs were done there, from there the Sultan ruled almost half of the world.
On the first day of our trip to Istanbul, of course, we went to Topkapi Palace.
How to get to Topkapi Palace
Topkapi Palace is located in the center of the historical part of Istanbul Sultanahmet. It is impossible to pass by, but here, just in case, is a link to the map.
The history of the Topkapi Palace
As you know, Topkapi Palace has been the seat of the Ottoman ruling family since 1467. The Territory of Topkapi is a huge complex of buildings, equal to about half of Monaco. This is a kind of city inside Istanbul, which has been created for centuries: courtyards, pavilions, mosques, fountains, baths and swimming pools. Take at least 4 hours to inspect Topkapi, because every tourist should see all this. And do not spare the extra 15 lire - be sure to go to the Harem.
Topkapi Palace began to be built under Sultan Mehmed II Fatih. It was he who in 1453 managed to conquer the impregnable Istanbul, or rather Constantinople. Of course, Suotan immediately became concerned with the question of where his palace would be located. The dilapidated palace of the Byzantine emperors was not to the taste of Mehmed II and he ordered to build a residence on the third city hill. However, the sultan preferred to live in Edirne, from where it was much more convenient to lead the campaigns and conquests of Europe. And the palace turned out to be too small for the broad Sultan's soul.
The new palace, or Topkapi, began to be built on Cape Seraglio in 1463, apparently because of the strategically good location overlooking the Golden Horn and the Sea of Marmara. By the way, in one of the guidebooks I read that there was a Byzantine acropolis at the construction site.
The construction of Topkapi was completed in 1467 and the sultan immediately moved to the palace. However, Topkapi was used as a place for official receptions until the end of the 16th century. The women remained in the old palace at Edirne.
Topkapi remained the official residence of the Ottoman sultans until 1839, when Sultan Abdul Merjid I moved to the luxurious new palace Dolmabahce overlooking the waters of the Bosphorus.
The name Topkapi is a modern version meaning literally "cannon gate". However, the Ottomans called Topkapi Saray Jedit-i-Amire or, more simply, the Palace of the Sultans.
During the heyday of the Ottoman Empire, about 4,000 people lived in the palace. Now the palace complex is a museum, consisting of the palace itself, four courtyards and a harem building.
I will divide the tour of Topkapi Palace into parts:
On the way to the palace
First courtyard
Second courtyard
Third courtyard
Fourth courtyard
Harem
On the way to Topkapi Palace
The palace is located in the very heart of Istanbul - in the Sultanahmet district. We rounded Hagia Sophia and saw the rich gate through which the Sultan from Topkapi Palace passed to Hagia Sophia for Friday prayers.
Along the walls of Topkapi there are lovely wooden houses, which have been restored and opened in them hotels, restaurants and cafes. If you go along this street, you will come to the Basilica Cistern. But we are now interested in Topkapi, where we are deliberately going.
Before entering the gate, look out for the Rocco or Ottoman Baroque fountain of Ahmed III.
Well, finally we found ourselves at the entrance through the Highest Gate (Bab-i Humayun), from which the Topkapi territory begins. The inscription above the gate says that it was built under Sultan Mehmed II and rebuilt under Mahmud II and Abdul Aziz. On both sides previously stood the gatekeepers' barracks, and there was a tower above the gate.
The gate opened with the first call to prayer and closed with the last. And only foreign ambassadors and viziers had the right to enter through these gates on horseback. We didn't have horses, and we hardly pull at the viziers, so we go on foot ... and now, a couple of steps and the idiot's dream comes true - WE ARE IN TOPCAPES!
First courtyard of Topkapi Palace
The first courtyard of the Topkapi Palace is located between the highest gate and the Gate of Welcome. Previously, the first courtyard was used as a storage place for coal, hay, firewood, there was a bakery, a mint, a janissary hospital and a palace water service. Nowadays, the ticket office of the Topkapi Museum is here.
By the way, about the cost of visiting Topkapi Palace.
We bought the Istanbul museum pass at the Topkapi ticket office, which is valid for 72 hours and costs 72 lira (about 35 dollars). Firstly, it gives the right to enter museums without a queue, and secondly, it saves money (more about Museum Pass).
You can buy a separate ticket to visit Topkapi (25 liras) and the entrance to the Harem (15 liras). It is difficult to say whether you are lucky or not with the lack of a queue, so I recommend buying a ticket online - https://www.muze.gov.tr/buy_e_ticket
If you decide to buy tickets to Topkapi on the spot, then do not forget that tickets to the Harem are sold directly near the entrance to it.
The main attraction of the first courtyard is Istanbul's oldest church, St. Irene. Moreover, it is considered one of the oldest Christian buildings in the world. Despite the fact that the church is located inside the walls of the palace, it has never been converted into a mosque. It is strange, of course, because the Turks have always been great lovers of covering everything up, setting up minarets and turning a Christian church into a mosque.
Over time, the janissaries set up a weapons storage in the church, maybe that's why now there is a weapons museum. And thanks to the excellent acoustics, concerts and various exhibitions are held in St. Irene from time to time.
So, we finally came to the ticket offices, which are located in front of the entrance to the second courtyard, in front of the Welcome gate. You have probably seen this gate in advertising brochures. The welcome gate is the centerpiece of the palace, supported by octagonal towers and lancet windows. These towers were built by Sultan Suleiman I the Magnificent. No one, except the Sultan, had the right to ride through the gate on horseback.
Topkapi Palace Second Courtyard (Diplomatic)
The fountain located in the Second Courtyard is notable. It is called the executioner's fountain because they washed their hands in it after the execution. By the way, the heads of the executed were exhibited in this courtyard.
From the Gate of welcome there are 6 paths (from right to left):
1. The path leading to the Sultan's stable
The stable usually housed about 30 thoroughbred horses. We did not reach the stable, so we did not see the chief stableman's room, where the precious harness of the royal family is now on display.
2. To the harem
You can talk endlessly about the harem ... therefore, I'll tell you about it in a separate report .
3. To the conference room of the Privy Council
The council usually met on Tuesdays immediately after the end morning prayer... The nobles were dressed in smart robes and the courtyard turned into an important political platform. The Divan building was built under Suleiman the Magnificent and consisted of several interconnecting rooms: the Council chamber, the office for drafting court documents and the office of the grand vizier.
Maybe the Council was secret, but not for the Sultan. There was a special lattice window in the room, behind which the Sultan hid and overheard what his subjects were talking about. And the territory was perfectly visible from the tower, which towered over the Sofa.
The Armory (former treasury) adjoins the Sofa. For centuries, the state treasury and personal property of the Sultan were kept here. All the generous gifts that the Sultan received from all over the world were brought here.
4. To the gate of happiness (to the Third Court)
The White Eunuchs Gate or the Gate of Happiness leads to the Third Courtyard of Topkapi.
5 and 6. To the palace kitchen (now there is an exhibition of dishes)
There were three kitchens in Topkapi Palace. In the main palace kitchen, a detachment of cooks (from 800 to 1,000) was prepared daily for 4,000 people. In the next building there was a pastry shop (helvahane), because the Ottomans were noble sweet tooth. Well, a separate room was occupied by the kitchen, where dishes were prepared for the Sultan's family.
At present, the largest exhibition of Chinese and Japanese porcelain after Peking and Dresden is located in ten rooms of the kitchen.
Topkapi Third Courtyard (Enderun)
Enderun means "internal" in translation. The chambers of the Sultan were located here, where he was engaged in everyday affairs, far from the harem. In the houses that surrounded the courtyard, the pages lived, who were specially brought up from childhood to serve the Sultan. These boys had a chance to move up the career ladder to the position of Has Odala Agha or even to the Vizier himself. The 40 pages were divided into several categories:
Has odaly aha - pages who were trusted to guard the relics of the Prophet Muhammad
Khazine aha - guarded the treasury
Seferli aha - were in charge of bathing the Sultan
Keelerly yeah - were in charge of feeding the Sultan
The third courtyard greets guests with an audience hall. The Sultan, seated on a throne with cushions, received the Grand Vizier and important foreign ambassadors here. And so that no one could overhear the conversations, a bubbling fountain was installed near the entrance.
The next magnificent building of the Topkapi Palace is the library of Sultan Ahmed III.
The splendid building with a large number of windows provided the Sultan for reading. In my opinion, it's great to lie on the sofas.
There is a gorgeous fountain in front of the library entrance.
In the eastern part of the Third Courtyard, there is an exhibition of clothes in the building of the page school. Here you can see the sultans' robes, which are sewn from expensive fabrics and lavishly decorated with the most expensive stones. Robes in Istanbul were sewn from a special fabric that was produced in Bursa, and they were of two types. Casual robes looked somewhat more modest than formal ones, which were decorated with jewelry and furs.
After the death of the Sultan, his clothes were carefully folded into the treasury and aired every spring.
The pearl of the Third Courtyard is a treasure trove. Imagine, there are no copies in the treasury, all the exhibits are genuine, although it's hard to believe. Photography is not allowed in the Treasury, so take our word for it - it's cool there! Can you imagine a throne embroidered with 25,000 pearls? And the famous 20-carat diamond? By the way, it is the fifth largest in the world. Among other things, in one of the halls you can see paintings depicting the sultans. Basically, these are copies of European paintings, because Islam prohibited the image of a human face.
Another unusual complex of rooms is the halls where sacred relics are kept. The basis of the collection was brought in in the 16th century after the Ottoman conquest of Egypt by Sultan Selim I.
It is prohibited to take pictures in these halls, which is being watched by vigilant guards. But I took a few photos, because these rooms are considered one of the best in Topkapi.
What are these sacred relics, you ask? The halls of the palace display personal relics of the Prophet Muhammad and the relics of other prophets, caliphs and Muslim saints. For example, the collection's pride is the personal mantle of the Prophet Muhammad, which fell into the hands of Selim I. The holy mantle is about 1,400 years old and has been carefully preserved since the 16th century in a golden ark exhibited on a silver pedestal. Every year on the 15th day of Ramadan, the Sultan, the viziers and the inhabitants of the harem visited the Sacred Mantle.
It is believed that the Prophet Muhammad had 9 swords, 2 of which are now kept in the Topkapi Museum. In addition, in Topkapi you will see a letter on a piece of leather written by the prophet himself, his seal, banner, footprint and even a tooth, beard and mustache.
Of the valuable things belonging to other prominent figures of the Masulman, swords, handwritten Korans and various relics from the Kaaba have been preserved. We were lucky, and at the moment of inspecting the relics, a live sound was heard in the premises, someone was reading the Koran. It is both mesmerizing and frightening at the same time.
The fourth courtyard of the Topkapi Palace.
Climbing the stairs, we saw the Divan Mosque.
Next is the Majida Palace, which is the latest building in Topkapi. This is a kind of farewell gift to Abdul Majid I, which he made to Topkapi shortly before moving to the new Sultan's palace, Dolmabahce. The palace is not at all typical for the Ottomans, it looks more like European palaces. This is not surprising, since European culture had a significant impact on the tastes of the Ottoman sultans. See for yourself, this palace is radically different from everything else in Topkapi.
An important building for the Sultan's family was the ward of the chief physician. There used to be a pharmacy here, where they prepared all sorts of "potions" for the Sultan's court. I think that women mined poisons to poison each other here too.
The staircase leads to Topkapi's only wooden building, the Divan Palace or the Terrace Pavilion. Initially, these rooms served as a resting place, and later turned into rooms for guests.
Audio guide and diagram of Topkapi Palace
I think that many will agree with me - it is much more interesting to go to museums in the company of a Russian-speaking audio guide. Fortunately, Topkapi has this very audio guide.
Buy a ticket, go inside and see a small kiosk where an audio guide is rented for a deposit and 15 liras (about 7 dollars). The deposit can be 50 euros or a passport.
Here they give a Russian audio guide to Topkapi
Together with the audio guide, we were presented with a diagram of the Topkapi Palace.
Download the plan of the Topkapi Palace
| 1. Ticket offices of Topkapi Museum and Treasury 2. First courtyard, Army courtyard, Janissary courtyard, Alay Meydan? 3. Church of St. Irene (Aya Irini Kilisesi) 4. Entrance to the Darphane Mint (Darphane-i Amire) and the Archaeological Museum (Arkeoloji M? Zesi) 5. Gate of Greetings to Bab-yus Selam (Bab-? S Selam) 6. Second courtyard, Divan courtyard, Divan Meydan? 7. Exhibition of palace carriages 8. Exhibition of Chinese porcelain 9. Exhibition of European porcelain 10. Kitchen Palace Saray Mutfaklar? 11. Exhibition of Turkish porcelain 12. Gate of Happiness, Gate of Bliss, Bab-? Saadet 13. Arms Exhibition (Silah Seksiyonu Sergi Salonu), Building of the External Treasury Dysh Hazine (DI Hazine) 14. Hall of the Divan Sofa Humayun (Divan-? H? Ayun) 15. Entrance to the Harem, the gate of the Araba Kap (Araba Kap?) 16. Harem of Topkapi Palace (Harem Torkap?) 17. Yard of the Sultan's mother Valide Sultan 18. The chambers of the Sultan's mother Valide Sultan |
19. Salon Murad III (III. Murat KИk?) 20. The chambers of Ahmed III (III. Ahmet KИk?) 21. Courtyard of the Gozdeler favorites (G? Zdeler Meydan?) 22. Throne Room, Audience Hall (Arz Odas?) 23. Library of Ahmed III (III. Ahmet K? T? Phanesi) 24. Topkapi Palace Library (Topkap? K? T? Phanesi) 25. Third Courtyard of Enderun 26. Treasury of Hazine Ko? U? U 27. Gallery of portraits of sultans 28. Watch Show 29. Pavilion of the Sacred Mantle and Holy Relics (Hirka-?? Erif) 30. Summer Palace of Abdul-Majid, Mecidiye Saray? Restaurant, Konyalt? 31. House of the chief doctor 32. Pavilion of Conversations, gazebo Iftarye 33. Yerevan Pavilion, summer palace Revan (Revan KИk?) 34. Baghdad Pavilion, Bagdat Summer Palace (Ba? Dat KИk?) 35. Sofa pavilion (Sofa KИk?), Fountain and Sultan's terrace (Sofa-i H? Mayun) 36. Hall of circumcision of Sunnet Odas (S? Nnet Odas?) |
