Topkapi Palace in Istanbul: photo and description, history, excursions, tourist reviews

2024 Author: Harold Hamphrey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:06

Istanbul is a beautiful historical city filled with sights. Every tourist should definitely take a look at them. The most important of them is the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul. Its popularity can be compared, for example, with the Eiffel Tower in Paris or Red Square in Moscow. The palace has long been a symbol of the city.

Location

For those who are planning a trip to Turkey, it will certainly be interesting to know where the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul is located. At one time, the complex was erected at the extreme point of the Istanbul peninsula, on a high hill, which to this day is washed on all sides by the waters of the Sea of Marmara and the Bosphorus. Topkapi means "cannon gate".

The historical palace has become a place of outstanding events. It is difficult to imagine how many sentences were handed down to subjects here, how many laws and significant decisions were made. Experienced tourists recommend starting the study of Istanbul from Topkapi. The palace will tell guests a lot about lifenumerous sultans, about the state structure of the empire and about the most mysterious place - the harem.

Getting to the palace is not difficult. It is located in the Eminonu area, between Gulhane Park and Hagia Sophia. Everyone can take a tour of the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul. Its huge exposition consists of 65 thousand exhibits, among which there are absolutely all things of the past, from weapons and jewelry to clothing.

Ticket prices

If you decide to visit the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul on your own, tickets can be purchased right at the entrance. In addition, a visit to the museum is often included in the program of other excursion tours. But still, it is better to allocate more time for its inspection, since the complex is large and incredibly interesting. It has a lot of rooms and exhibits.

The cost of visiting the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul is 30 liras (427 rubles), but you will have to pay another 15 liras (215 rubles) to enter the harem.

Construction history

The more than 600-year history of Topkapi Palace in Istanbul is simply impressive. For all this long period of time, the palace walls have seen a lot and keep many secrets. The ancient residence of the rulers of the Ottoman Empire served the sultans for over 400 years.

Currently, the Topkapi Museum in Istanbul keeps within its walls a large number of relics and shrines of the Muslim world. It is for this reason that it is considered one of the largest establishments of this kind in the world.

The area of the palace exceeds 700 thousand square meters. Whole complexis surrounded by a one and a half kilometer wall.

Twenty-five Ottoman sultans lived and ruled in the palace from 1465 to 1856. It was here that all the celebrations and meetings took place. More than 50 thousand people lived on the territory of the complex. It had bakeries, hospitals, mosques, baths and even its own zoo.

The history of Topkapi Palace in Istanbul dates back to the middle of the fifteenth century. It was during this period, after the capture of Constantinople, Sultan Mehmed II settled in the city. The rather small palace built for him did not suit the ruler, so in 1475 he gave the order to build a completely new palace on the site of the former imperial one. But it turned out that a new complex was erected in Saraiburuna, but the Tiled Pavilion remained in place of the old building. Only many years later, the wife of Suleiman I persuaded the Sultan to move to the palace and harem.

The main street that led to the palace complex was Divan Yolu. It led directly to the Hagia Sophia. The ruler entered the territory through the Imperial Gate, which is often called the “Gate of the Sultan”. They are still located on the south side of the palace. The gates are decorated with the personal coat of arms of the ruler and quotes from the Koran.

For 400 years of faithful service to the rulers of the empire, the door hosted 25 sultans within its walls. For each of them, he was a kind of symbol of power and undivided power. And only in 1854 Abdulmecid I left Topkapi and moved to the new Dolmabahce Palace. Old palace complexBy order of Kemal Ataturk in 1923, it was turned into the Topkapi Museum in Istanbul. And the Dolmabahce Palace has since become the official residence of the heads of Turkey.

Description of the complex

Description of the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul should start with its device. It was built on the principle of four courtyards, which are enclosed by a single stone wall. We have already mentioned the main gate earlier. It is they who lead to the first, largest courtyard, which was used as a park. There are still terraces with stunning views of the Bosphorus. There were also utility rooms in the yard. But the temple of St. Irene and fountains survived from the former palace. The church has always been very carefully kept by the Turks.

Behind the second gate, which was called the "gate of welcome", there was an office and the treasury was kept. It is this entrance that is the most famous, since it is he who is most often present in the description of the complex. The gate is equipped with two towers. Only official foreign delegations could pass through them. No one else could pass through them. Other visitors entered only through the middle gate. But the ruler rode to the palace only on horseback. Beyond the second gate was a garden. This courtyard was made during the reign of Mahmed II in 1465. But it acquired its final form in 1525-1529. On its territory there were bakeries, a hospital, kitchens and a harem.

At the very end of the courtyard is the "Gate of Happiness", which allows you to get into the third part of the complex. This is where there is a lotinteresting. For example, there is a collection of porcelain, which was incredibly valuable during the time of the sultans. The collection of Chinese products consists of more than 10 thousand copies. Among them there are rare examples of 10-13 centuries. The garrison barracks, imperial stables, council building, armory and other buildings are located in the same courtyard.

Main part of the palace

Through the "Gate of Happiness" you can get into the personal chambers of the Sultan and the harem. This place can be called the heart of the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul. The Sultan himself spent a lot of time here. In addition, the pages of the ruler lived in the courtyard, who were in the service and studied arts, calligraphy and music. The best students in the future could become high officials or keepers of relics.

To the right of the gate is a meeting room. This is a very beautiful pavilion in which the rulers received guests. Within these walls, the viziers held an answer to the Sultan, immediately received ambassadors and official delegations. There is a beautiful throne inside the pavilion.

In the third courtyard lived tailors who sewed clothes for the ruler and high-ranking officials of the empire. There was also a pavilion of the imperial treasury, a portrait gallery, Ahmed III's library, a mosque. And, of course, the real heart of the palace is the Sultan's harem.

Harem

On the territory of the harem, the Sultan had private quarters. In total, from the premises of the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, the harem occupied more than 400 rooms. Everyone was completely forbidden to enter here, except for the Sultan himself, his concubines,family members and close people.

The word harem is of Arabic origin and in translation means protected, forbidden, inviolable, which fully reveals the essence of this part of the palace. Everything that happened behind the walls was a great secret to the outside world.

Topkapi's harem is of great historical and architectural value, because on its territory you can find styles of architecture from the 16th-19th centuries. Many believe that it represents the reign of the empire of Suleiman the Magnificent, since it was built for his wife. Previously, the harem was located in a completely different building, outside of Topkapi. By order of Suleiman I, a significant restructuring of part of the palace was carried out. So a new harem appeared, in which the chambers of Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska were located. Topkapi Palace in Istanbul has become a single complex, which can be described as a "city within a city." The life of its inhabitants was different from the outside world. Here reigned its own strict rules, to which absolutely everyone obeyed. And the harem was no exception. Nobody had the right to break these rules. The harem had its own hierarchy.

The main thing in it was the mother of the Sultan, who was called Valide-Sultan. Numerous wives of the ruler, daughters, sisters, favorites, heirs, concubines also lived here. At the same time, from 700 to 1200 people could live in the female half.

Currently, only the first floor of the harem in the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul is open to tourists - the chambers of Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska and the rooms of privileged women. The second floor was inhabited by simpleconcubines.

All rooms are richly decorated with colorful mosaics, and the ceilings are painted with bright colors. There are many golden inscriptions in all the chambers (perhaps these are quotes from the Koran).

The total area of the female half is 6.7 thousand square meters. In addition to the chambers, it contained 45 toilets, 6 pantries, 8 baths and 2 mosques, as well as a hospital pool, 4 kitchens and a laundry. The heating system was thought out in the harem, which consisted of fireplaces located in almost all rooms.

Harem Rules

As we already mentioned, the harem had its own rules. The main woman here was the Sultan's mother. It was she who ran the harem. At her disposal were about 40 rooms, her own yard for walking, many servants and eunuchs, for the role of which only blacks were taken.

The heirs of the Sultan also grew up in the female half. Life in the harem was a little like a holiday. The morning of the girls began with a prayer, then everyone went to the hammam, and after breakfast - to study. Women were taught oriental dance, calligraphy, languages, sewing, religion, music lessons, court etiquette, and the art of seduction.

Every concubine dreamed of being on the Golden Path, which led to the Sultan's chambers. The corridor was named so because the ruler showered it with gold coins for women on holidays. There was no harem as such in 1908. At that time, he was in the new palace - Dolmabahce.

Showrooms

Topkapi Palace in Istanbul (Turkey) is amazingly largecollection of relics. Only a tenth of them is exhibited for tourists, which is 65 thousand copies. Experts consider the collection one of the rarest. It is included in the top three along with the collections of the Romanovs and the Austrian Habsburg dynasty.

Walking through the halls, you can see the thrones of the sultans, decorated with rubies, pearls and diamonds, the personal clothes of the rulers, luxurious swords, jewelry, shields, quivers, firearms. Of great interest are unusual candlesticks weighing about 46 kilograms, made of pure silver and inlaid with precious stones, as well as a baby cradle made of gold.

Of the entire collection, the most valuable is the Kashikchi diamond (86 carats). Its name in translation means - a spoon-shaped diamond. In the same hall with him you can see the Topkapi dagger, made of pure gold (made in the 18th century). It is decorated with a huge emerald on the handle, under which there is an English clock. The Sultan presented the dagger to the Persian Shah Nadir, but after his death the gift was sent back to Istanbul.

Tourists are always interested in the hall with clothes, uniforms of the Sultan and silk carpets. All things are dated by different centuries, from the sixteenth to the twentieth. They belonged to the rulers and their shehzade. In total, the Sultan's wardrobe is represented by 1550 exhibits. Many tourists wonder how it was possible to save all these things. It turns out that the sultans were buried in tombs, where personal belongings and a wardrobe were placed.

Very exciting exposition of weapons and watches. Here you can seeTurkish watches of the seventeenth century and European gifts. Among them are pocket, wall and floor copies. The sabers of Mehmed Fatihu, who conquered Constantinople in the fifteenth century, and his heirs are exhibited in the armory hall. Also here you can see chain mail, helmets, firearms, pistols, axes and much more.

Reviews of tourists

Topkapi Palace in Istanbul is a place worth visiting for all tourists. An amazing complex worthy of attention. No wonder it is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. For many centuries the palace was the simple residence of the sultans. And only in 1924 it was opened as a museum. According to tourists, it will be incredibly interesting for every European to see the palace. And it's not just its rich exposition. The fact is that the complex of buildings bears little resemblance to the more familiar palaces.

The construction of Topkapi at one time was very long and lasted for several centuries. Sultan Mehmet II began it, after which each subsequent ruler completed some of his premises and buildings. The architects of those eras did not adhere to a single style and a common project. They were faced with the task of making some new building. Therefore, the whole palace does not have a specific architectural style. Tourists believe that perhaps this is where its attractiveness and popularity lie. Only by walking through the halls of such a diverse palace, one can fully feel how strong the power of the Ottoman Empire was for 600 years,for its territory extended over three parts of the world.

Work Schedule

The opening hours of Topkapi Palace in Istanbul depend on the season. From November to April (this is the winter season) the complex is open from 9:00 to 17:00. And from April to November, the museum is open for two more hours a day (until 19:00). Tourists can visit it six days a week, Tuesday is an official day off. The palace is also closed a few more days a year on the occasion of major holidays.

Rules for visiting the museum

Going to the museum, you should be aware that photography or video filming of items from the rich collection of the palace is strictly prohibited. Throughout the building there are guards who strictly monitor compliance with the rules. They strongly recommend violators to remove all materials from cameras or phones. Strollers are not allowed on the museum grounds. You also need to remember the dress code. Off-the-shoulder T-shirts, shorts and short skirts are not allowed. Therefore, it is better to use more closed clothing options. At the entrance you may be offered special capes for tourists. There are mosques on the territory of the museum, which can only be visited with a head covering.

Experienced tourists recommend initially purchasing a museum card. The territory of the palace is incredibly large, so it is easier to move around it according to the plan. It is also worth using the audio guide service. There are always a lot of tourists in the palace to get into some chambers, whole queues line up, so it’s better to come on a tour in the morning. At this time, the influx of people is not yet sogreat. Unfortunately, not all rooms are open to guests. So, for example, visitors are not shown the chambers of the Sultan and other very interesting places. And yet, in order to get around the entire palace, you will have to spend a lot of time. Therefore, it is worth allocating at least four hours for the tour.