Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul

Sitting room at the Topkapi Palace

Small submarine in the background

View of Bosphorus from the Fourth Court of Topkapi Palace

Home of the Sultans

Topkapi Palace, Istanbul, Turkey

The Harem, Topkapi Palace

Topkapi Palace and Harem

Sultan Murat IV had it build in 1639 to celebrate his capture of the city from the Safavid Persians.

Entrance gate to Topkapi Palace. Between 1459 and 1465, shortly after the conquest of Constantinople Mehmet II built Topkapi Palace as his principal residence. It is a series of pavilions contained by 4 enormous court yards. It served as the center of government and had a school that trained civil servants and soldiers. In the 16th Century the seat of government was moved to the Sublime Port. Sultan Abdul Mecid I abandoned Topkapi in 1853 for the Dolmabahce Palace. In 1924 it was opened to the public as a museum.

Looking toward the Innermost gate

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Home of the Sultans

The walls of this parlor were beautiful, with amazing mother-of-pearl detail in the doors.

Topkapi Palace