Topkapi Palace Istanbul is the administrative palace of the Ottoman Dynasty, that ruled on three continents for over six centuries, is definitely a must see. Open everyday except Tuesday,the museum and the artifacts displayed deserve a thorough attention. The construction started in 1470; palace do not show an architectural uniformity in the classical sense as each reigning Sultan added new parts, or seperate parts of it were rebuilt after the destruction of fires and earthquakes. The beatiful gardens of the palace, that occupied the eastern end of the peninsula in the time interval the palace was used by the dynasty, serve different purposes today.

Through the Central Gate, adorned with two sides, one reaches a large courtyard. On the left there is a chamber which was used as the barracks for the external guards, “Hallebardies” (Teberliler) and wher the imperial coaches are displayed. along the same row is a seperate museum. On the right is the kitchen complex that houses four seperate display rooms. the 16th cen. Construction is the work of the great imperial Architect “Sinan”. More thanone thousand servants were employed in the complex and cooked for five thousand people everyday. In the religious celebrations, circumcision ceremonies for the heirs and so on. this number reached up to ten thousand or more. The Large hall, that covers a great portion of the kitchen, displays one of the largest collections of the Chinese and far Eastern porcelain. The original kitchen utensils and Istanbul and European porcelain are displayed int he two small chambers at the end of the inner courtyard. the narrow building, used as the cellar in the past, houses the silver collection.

The Harem, residence of the Sultan’s wives and concubines, consist of the hundreds of rooms, many corridors, courtyards and halls. The intricate decoration of the complex reflects an oriental taste. Next to the harem is the display of arms and armory; used by many Turkish and Islamic States. The Council is another attraction within the same complex.

Passing through a second monumental gate, known as the “Gate of Felicity”, you reach the “Reception Hall” of the Sultan. This is where the accepted visitors, foreign envoys and the viziers.

In this courtyard, you can see the hall for the Sultan’s costumes, the glamorous Imperial Treasury hall that comprises four major sections, the chamber of miniatures and Sultan’s portraits, the gallery of Clocks and Watches and finally the section of the Holly Relics. This section, especially, draws the attentionof the tourists from the Moslem countries as the collection contains a letter of Prophet Mohammed (S.A.V.), his sword and bow, flag his mantle and his foot print. The gold cover of the black stone (“Hacer-ul Esved”) and a few belongings of the early Caliphs are in the same room. To the left of the gate of Felicity is another room with a display of various fabrics and embroideries.

Three seperate passes provide the access to the last courtyard. The two fine examples of civil Ottoman architecture, Revan and Baghdad Kiosks, and the special chamber for the circumcision of the heirs are located to the left of the courtyard. From the platform you can get and a great view of the Golden Horn, Galata Tower. On the right end of the courtyard is the Mecidiye Kiosk. From the terrace in front, the is the breathtaking panorama of the city on Asia, The Bosphorus, The Sea of Marmara and the Princes Islands.