We didn't see nearly all there was to see here; it's a huge compound. One of the most incredible places we saw was the treasury. Check some of the pieces out, especially the 86-carat Spoonmaker Diamond.

Looking out a window of the Harem onto the city

Topkapi Palace was the home of the sultans and the seat of Ottoman power from the 1400s-1800s.

Sultan’s Sofa In The Palace

Olympus digital camera

Istanbul. Harem, Topkapi Palace

in the harem

Istanbul. Harem, Topkapi Palace.

turkey, topkapi palace

Garden at Topkapi-Palace, Istanbul/Turkey

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topkapi_Palace_Museum

Topkapi Palace

The Harem, Topkapi Palace

Outter entrance to the Harem. Harem means "Private" or "Forbidden".

Tiles in the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul

Read more about the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topkap%C4%B1_Palace

The details of this entire site were just stunning. This structure was the entrance to the Harem.