Topkapı Palace

Topkapı Palace, also known as the Old Royal Palace, is located on a peninsula promontory full of historical relics in Istanbul. It was a place where state ceremonies and royal entertainment were held in the past, and where successive sultans worked and lived. Here you can overlook the Sea of Marmara and the Bosphorus.

From the conqueror Mohammad's capture of Constantinople in 1453 to the 19th century, for nearly four hundred years, successive sultans lived here to accept visits and govern state affairs. Today, the part that is open to visitors displays a large number of porcelain, weapons, paintings, calligraphy manuscripts, and jewelry objects.

Topkapi Palace is composed of four courtyards and other small buildings such as the harem, like a city within a city. The entire palace is supplied with water through underground tanks, and has imperial dining rooms, sleeping rooms, gardens, libraries, schools and mosques. There were also various artists and craftsmen, producing many fine works for the entire empire.