Topkapi Palace was the main residence and headquarter of the Ottoman Empire sultans from 1465 to 1856. In its golden age, the palace area covered a larger area with a long shoreline and was home to as many as 4000 people. The palace complex is split between 4 courtyards which include gardens, mosques, pavilions, a hospital, and of course, a Harem.
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Key Facts about Topkapi Palace
- it was built by Mehmet II (also known as the Mehmet the Conqueror) just after he conquered Constantinople and put an end to the last traces of the Roman empire;
- it was designed to resemble the tent camps of nomadic Ottomans;
- it was not only the sultan’s residence but also the seat of government and of other top Ottoman institutions. Here were planned most of the military campaigns that terrified the medieval world;
- the palace has hundreds of rooms that contain large collections of porcelain, robes, weapons, shields, armor, Ottoman miniatures, Islamic calligraphic manuscripts, and shinny displays of Ottoman jewelry.
What any visitor should know
- you need to invest at least half a day if you want to visit the whole place;
- there are more than one ticket options: Basic Ticket, Harem Area Ticket, and the Full Area Ticket;
- photography is not allowed in most of the eye-catching museums (like the ones showing weapons, armor, porcelain vessels, etc). However, do not leave your camera home because there are still many other places around where you can fill your camera with nice shots;
- Topkapi Palace is the old residence of Ottoman Sultans which means it is not as extravagant and modern as Dolmabahce Palace (their last residence). However, Topkapi Palace suits better visitors interested in exploring the traditional spirit of the Ottomans.
