Topkapi Palace

Located on top of a hill overlooking the Golden Horn and Sea of Marmara, Topkapi Palace is the biggest palace in Istanbul. Sultan Mehmed II, the conqueror of Constantinople, commissioned the palace in 1459; he lived there till his death in 1481. The palace was earlier called The New Palace, which was renamed Topkapi, which in Turkish means ‘Cannon Gate’. Topkapi palace served as the royal residence of Ottoman sultans for over 400 years and was the political centre of the empire until they built Dolmabahce Palace by the waterside. The rococo-style fountain of Sultan Ahmed III, built in 1728, adorns the area facing the main Imperial Gate. Byzantine church of Hagia Eirene is located in the first courtyard. The Grand Palace Kitchen is located in the second courtyard known as Diwan Square. The palace kitchen has more than 10,000 pieces of fine porcelain brought from China. The Harem Complex is the highlight of the second courtyard, twin apartments of the Crown Prince are the most beautiful rooms inside the Harem Complex. Imperial stables, Imperial Council Halls, the Tower of justice and Imperial Treasury are some of the other attractions inside Topkapi Palace. Stroll around the massive complex and admire the seamless blend of Middle Eastern architecture with Ottoman style in various structures.