Topkapi Palace

   After the Ottoman Sultan Mehmet II. conquered Istanbul in 1453, construction began in 1460. The Topkapi Palace construction took 18 years of labour, was completed in 1478. It is located on an area of 700,000 square meters ( 400 acres) between the Bosporus and the Golden Horn. It was used as the center of the empire for 378 years, since Sultan Mehmet II. till Sultan Abdulmecit. Today, Topkapi palace, which is also included in the UNESCO world heritage list, has been standing for nearly 6 centuries. It was heavily damaged  by a fire in 1574, and was restored by Architect Sinan. Ottoman state philosophy plays an important role in its architecture and formation. In addition, it was built on the Byzantine acropolis. The Topkapi Palace, consists of three adjasent structures called ''Harem''  “Enderun” and “Birun”. It is surrounded by walls 1400 meters long with 23 towers on them. Architect Sinan, Sultan Mehmet II., Acem Ali, Davud Aga, and Sarkis Balyan left their own touch in different times  according to their taste.It was also inspired by Edirne Palace in its first construction.The oldest Qur'an, which was written by hand is also exibited in the Topkapi Palace, where the Holly Reliques of Islam are located. Topkapi Palace, which was used as the central palace for 378 years during the Ottoman Empire, was turned into a museum in the early years of the Turkish Republic in 1924.

The Departments of the Topkapi Palace

   The Topkapi Palace, consisting of a garden,a courtyard for ministries and ceremonies,a courtyard for education, a private garden of the Sultan, a harem, 4 yards, and 3 main doors among the yards, was built quite modestly  in medieval form compared to new ages palaces. The public used to enter through the outer garden. There was a money mint, a hospital, a bakery, and the Hagia Irene Church.

   In the second courtyard of the Topkapi Palace, there are buildings related to the state administration. In this courtyard, where official ceremonies are also held, the Divan-i Humayun (administrative counsil or cabinet) , the Divan-i Humayun Treasury and kitchens are also located. In this courtyard there is the Tower of Justice and the Harem Apartments entrance too.

   The third courtyard of the palace is called the “Enderun” section. This yard is the area that belongs to the Sultans. In this department, the Sultan holds his meetings and welcomes foreign ambassadors . In this yard, containing the Palace School, there is also a Presentation Room, the Sultans Treasury in the Fatih Pavilion, and a Privy Chamber.

   The buildings belonging to the Sultans are located in the fourth yard, which comes after this courtyardyard. At the same time, rose gardens are located in the fourth yard, and the most important monuments of Ottoman architecture are located here. Baghdad and Revan pavillions used as libraries, Sofa pavillion built by Kara Mustafa Pasha , Hekimbasi Tower, and Mecidiye Mansion are among these works. Topkapi Palace, which has 300,000 archival documents, is known as the largest palace museum in the world.