Day 5      7/11/22

Istanbul

Frank's Trip

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Topkapi Palace Complex...

What a day this was! This place is HUGE! It was the only thing I did all day - I was whipped by the time I got through all of it. Once again, I see the value of not being in a tour group. I saw some areas that the tours weren't going through. And I got there early before the tours were starting; many were grouped up outside with the guides doing their spiel about the place. Meanwhile, I had everything to myself for at least half an hour along with a handful of other people not in tours.

The Fountain of Ahmed III

This fountain is one of the most beautiful examples of Turkish rocco style and was constructed in 1729

Topkapi Sarayi

Topkapi Palace is a complex of buildings and courtyards rather than a single structure. Covering an area of about 173 acres, the palace is surrounded by the Marmara Sea, the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn. And on the land, it is surrounded by about 4,600 feet of city walls known as the “Royal Walls” and with the Byzantine walls on the side facing the sea.

Topkapi Palace was the residence of the Ottoman sultans as well as the administrative and educational center of the Empire. The palace was constructed atop the Byzantine acropolis on Sarayburnu at the tip of the historical peninsula, between the years of 1460-1478 with the order of Fatih Sultan Mehmed, after the conquest of Istanbul in 1453. Topkapi Palace continued to be the residence of the Ottoman sultans for about 350 years, until the early 1850s.

In the year of 1924, as the Republic of Turkey established, Topkapi Palace was converted into a museum with the order of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

A very small section of the wall surrounding the palace complex

Grounds of 2nd Courtyard

Gate of Salutation

Kitchen

When there are many people to feed, really big kitchens are needed. And when many special guests are invited, add more kitchen. These are pictures from one of the connected kitchens.

Medicines were prepared in the Confectionery Kitchen under the supervision of the Palace Physician.

Gate of Felicity   -    Gate Of White Eunuchs

The Gate of Felicity leads to the 3rd Courtyard (innermost courtyard). Only the Sultan and his family and entourage could enter with the rare exception of special visitors who could only enter as far as the Audience Chamber.

Ceremonial Golden Throne - 1700's

The Clock Collection

The clock collection spans 400 years and is one of the world's most magnificent collections of mechanical clocks. They are truly spectacular!

The Harem

The Harem is a whole different world where the wives and concubines of the sultans were lived. It was the world of love, intrigue and jealousy and has an important value on the administration of the Empire.

Like the palace, the harem is also a complex of buildings and courtyards and gardens, not a single structure - and this grouping is also a part of the overall palace complex.

Apartment of the Sultan's mother

The Imperial Hall

The Sultan's ceremonial and reception hall. Weddings and ceremonies of the dynasty were held here. There is the Sultan's throne and the gallery where the Sultan's mother and members of the harem used to sit.

The Arms Museum

Beautiful historic armaments - some practical and many ceremonial. Unfortunately, photography not allowed - though I did get a couple of shots before the guard stopped me.