Istanbul - Day 4
Topkapı Sarayı

Sarayburnu (Seraglio Point).with Gülhane Parkı and Topkapı Sarayı

Shortly after the conquest of Constantinople, Sultan Mehmet II began the construction of a new palace on the hill where in antiquity the acropolis of Byzantium was located. For almost four centuries, until Abdülmecid I moved his residence in 1853 to Dolmabahçe Palace, the sultans lived in the Topkapi Palace (Topkapı Sarayı in Turkish) or Seraglio as it became known in the West. Unlike European palaces, Topkapı Sarayı, meaning Gate of the Cannon, is actually a large complex of pavilions and gardens built around 4 major courtyards. One of those pavilions was a shore palace that was known as the Topkapi shore palace, as it was situated near the cannon gate -Top Kapı- of the ancient walls of Istanbul. When this shore palace burned down in 1863, it lent its name to the great complex we now know as Topkapi Palace. In 1924 the palace was reopened as a museum by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

More about the history of the palace and its treasures can be found at the Topkapi Museum web-page.

On our way from Gülhane Park and the archeological museum complex, we arrived immediately in the first court at the main entrance to the palace that is formed by the Bab-üs-Selam (Gate-of-Greeting), also known as Ortakapı (Middle Gate). The  Bab-üs-Selam leads to the second courtyard, the Divan Meydanı. Here are the imperial kitchens, where part of the palace's collection Chinese celadon porcelain is exhibited.  Opposite, at the west side is the Kubbealtı (meaning under the dome) or Divan Salonu where the Imperial Council or Divan used to meet. Next to it is also the entrance to the famous harem. The word harem  in Arabic means forbidden and refers to the private section of a household where women live and work. The harem of Topkapi was like a labyrinth composed of 400 rooms, 10 bathrooms (hamam), fountains, corridors and secret passages.

The Bab-üs-Saadet or Gate-of-Felicity leads to the third court (Enderun) with its various pavilions. Here is also the Treasury Room located where the world-famous emerald sheathed Topkapi dagger and the 86 carat Kasikci or Spoon Maker's diamond, surrounded by 49 brilliants, are on display (photography not allowed).

The Konyali restaurant and cafeteria is the place for a rest, some refreshments and a breath-taking view on the Bosphorus.

A covered path leads from the Treasury Room to the fourth court with the Lale (Tulip) garden, the Baghdad Pavilion and the  Iftariye Kiosk. We finish this interesting day by leaving Topkapi in the direction of the Aya Sofia, passing the Imperial Gate or Bab-i Hümayün and the elegant Sultan Ahmet Çeşmesi.
 

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