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Topkapi Palace, the imperial residence of the Ottoman Sultans for four centuries, lies at the tip of the headland at the mouth of the Bosphorus Strait. In Byzantine times, monasteries and public houses belonging to the priests of Haghia Sophia stood on this site which is dominated today by complex of buildings forming Topkapi Palace. It is possible that the first builders of Topkapi Palace made use of existing foundations and retaining walls, hence the non-axial plan of the palace.Undoubtedly Topkapi involved a synthesis of Byzantine elements but what grew up on the peninsula by the Golden Horn cannot possibly be divorced from its predecessors in Ottoman history. Shortly after his conquest of Constantinople, Sultan Mehmet II begun the construction of the palace as his principal residence. New additions and alterations continued until the mid-nineteenth century, leaving traces of the characters and styles of Ottoman Architecture between the fifteenth and nineteenth centuries.With its gardens and pavillions contained by four enormous courtyards , surrounded by enormous high walls , the palace covered a vast area The last new building to be added to Topkapi was commissioned by Sultan Abdulmecid who abandoned Topkapi for a new palace on the Bosphorus. Neglected thereafter, Topkapi Palace fell into disrepair. After the establishment of the Republic in 1923 it was extensively renovated and transformed into a museum, and ever since has been one of Istanbul's most popular sights.
The first courtyard is the outer part of Topkapi Palace which was once a service area, housing the Ottoman Mint, a palace hospital, firewood stores, carriage houses, stables and a bakery.The first courtyard was open to the public, and a bustling place where janissaries, tradesman and others went about their business.The first courtyard opens to the second courtyard via the Gate of Salutations, the entrance to the palace. |
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second courtyard, where the palace proper began, measures 110 by 170 metres.
To the east stand the immense palace kitchens. Today as well as some of
the original kitchen equipment, the palace's enormous collection of porcelain
and glass is housed here. To the west stand the Kubbealti, where the Imperial
Divan of vezirs and other statesman convened to discuss affairs of state,
the Imperial Treasury and the Imperial Stables.
The third courtyard encircled by arcades contains the Treasury ( Fatih Köskü ) where the gold and jewelled treasures of the Ottoman Sultans are displayed. Right behind the Gate of Felicity stands the Throne Room where the members of the Divan would submit their conclusions to the sultan. The Library of Ahmet III is situated behind the Throne Room. The Pavillion of the Holy Mantle contains holy relics brought from Egypt as well as a collection of calligraphy. The Imperial Hall built by Mehmet IV was where the sultans spent most of their leisure time.
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In the fourth courtyard stood many pavillions. The Bagdat Pavillion and Revan Pavillion, built for Murat IV, are outstanding examples of seventeenth century Ottoman architecture. Between the Baghdad and Revan pavilions is a marble terrace with a pool in the centre and an arbour with a gilded baldachin roof commanding a view over the Golden Horn and the Bosphorus. The nearby Sofa Pavillion was built for Ahmet III in his tulip garden who used to occupt this area. The large Mecidiye Pavillion is the last building added to Topkapi Palace. Today it houses a restaurant. The Itfariye Pavillion command a magnificent view over both shores of the Golden Horn and the Bosphorus.
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