There were originally around 700-800 residents of the Palace at the beginning, but during the centuries it dramatically raised to 5,000 during normal days and 10,000 during festivals, approximately. Before you get to the second gate, there are ticket boots, a change office, and a small gift shop on the right. The initial construction was Cinili Mansion, a tiled kiosk finished in 1472, and the main gate (Bab-i Humayun in Arabic or the Imperial Gate) facing Sultanahmet square and Hagia Sophia church, and the Palace ramparts at the second gate (Bab-us Selam or the Gate of Salutation) were completed in 1478. One of the best examples of this is the Topkapı Palace Harem, also known as Darüssaade. The Spoonmaker’s Diamond, one of the world’s largest. The Pavilion of the Holy Mantle (Hasoda Koğuşu) contains several of Islam’s holiest relics. Although the manuscripts have been removed, it’s worth a visit to admire the 16th and 17th century Iznik tiles on the walls above the windows. Once they moved to Topkapi palace, the old one was called as "Old Palace" and Topkapi as the "New Palace". The museums in Istanbul will operate 7 days a week, except Topkapi Palace. The saint’s left hand is allegedly […] But now, let us set aside fantasies and look at the facts of the harem… Read more about Ottoman Harem Article, (c) 2016 ESKAPAS LLC | REG A2606 | USA +1 202 960 7750 |  Amongst these, the Janissaries were the biggest part of the population who were based within the first courtyard of the palace. To be certain on the closure days or opening times, you can call that museum directly (country code for Turkey is +90) or contact me to double check. This gate was open to the public, who passed through to give their petitions to government offices in the courtyard. The relics are housed in the former private chambers of the sultan, the Privy Chambers, which are located in the Third Courtyard of the palace. All four Gospels record John the Baptist's ministry. Mecediye Köşkü was the very last building ever constructed in the palace. Palace Kitchen Staff Halls: The dormitory was constructed in the 16th and 17th centuries. You can also check the Google Map of the Palace at this link. Today, passing through this gate there will be a security check and ticket control, and you access to the second courtyard of the palace (courtyard of the Divan). | Some of the exhibition halls are closed for restorations but still the visit of the palace would take a half day for an interested person. This contains what's considered to be the arm of St. John the Baptist. The Topkapi Palace was the headquarters of the Ottoman Empire from the 1480s to the 1850s. During the summer period it has longer opening hours (until 19:00 usually) and might be open 7 days a week, depending on the high tourist request. This is where the sultan received the Grand Vizier, council members and high-ranking officials to ratify their resolutions. Blending late medieval Islamic architecture with hints of European influence, the Topkapi is one of the greatest royal residences ever built and a superb example of early Ottoman styles. Here, the word ‘harem’ also referred to the physical space in which he and his family members lived. On your left is the Byzantine church of Hagia Eirene, more commonly known as Aya İrini. You may see Prophet Moses’ staff, Prophet David’s sword, hand of John the Baptist, mantle of Prophet Muhammad in the Sacred Relics room. Fourth Courtyard of the Palace. He is considered a particularly significant figure in the Orthodox Church. Second Court . Once a year, it was displayed to high officials then doused in water; the drops squeezed from it were sent out as talismans against the plague. Please note that in some of the exhibition halls you're not permitted to take any photographs, such as Treasury, Sultans' costumes, and the Holly Relics. Click on highlighted fields to learn more. However, it seems that part of the right hand of St. John offered by Sultan Baizid the II to the Order of Hospitallers, returned to the Ottoman Turks in the late sixteenth century. It now houses the Konyalı restaurant, famous for its magnificent terrace. The arm of John the Baptist. In Matthew and John, John the Baptist recognizes Jesus as the one he had foretold. Halvahane: This section is dedicated to sweety products. It was an ‘education center’ and a ‘service temple’. Inside the Harem there were rooms dedicated to the mother of the sultan, wives of the sultan, his concubines, Turkish baths, circumcision room, apartments of the chief black eunuch, and apartments of the sultan, in total over 400 rooms. On the right of the courtyard there is a collection of sultans' costumes and the Treasury, maybe one of the most popular section of the museum. Please agree to all the terms and conditions before proceeding to the next step, Best Day and Multiday Trips to visit Topkapi Palace, The carriages on display are some of the sultan’s carriages, including the state carriage and the carriage of the, This is where the state affairs were discussed and the business of running the empire was carried out. Across the courtyard, to the left, there is the Divan, or Council Chamber, where the viziers and grand vizier gathered to talk about daily issues or to receive foreign visitors. The palace having around 700,000 m2 of area during the foundation years, it currently has only 80,000 m2 of area because of building constructions in its grounds towards the end. Upon entering the Third Courtyard, you’re immediately confronted with the Audience Chamber (Arz Odası). Celadon from China is an important item in the kitchen because there was a belief that if the food was poisoned to assassinate the Sultan, the porcelain would change the color. Behind this room, there is a library as well. There are many sections in the Topkapi Palace which can be visited today, these are exhibition halls and doesn't contain any furniture. Skull "The skull of St. John the Baptist was originally in the possession of the Byzantine and fell into Ottoman hands after the conquest. I was feeling ambitious on Istanbul Day 5. This is where the state affairs were discussed and the business of running the empire was carried out. Topkapi Palace, Istanbul. The Imperial Council consisted of the, ), viziers and other leading officials of the Ottoman Empire, , present home to an exhibition of weapons and armor, hence called the Weapons Room (, The sultan only used this immense rococo style gate and the square (. ) The palace received its current name during Mahmud I 's reign; when Topkapusu Sâhil Sarâyı, the seaside palace, was destroyed in a fire its name was transferred to the Palace. (located on the left-hand side of the courtyard) 4. I mean, at the time, I thought I was thinking it through, but that was using the incredibly limited information that I had in my brain. Topkapi Palace continued to be the residence of the Ottoman sultans for about 350 years, until the early 1850s. Here, a nice park, some ruins and columns from the Byzantine period, a 6th century Hagia Irene church which is occasionally used for some concerts and art exhibitions today, the Imperial Mint, and the Archaeological museum welcomes you. And, the more blurry the dusty pages of history are, the greater are the speculations about them.  | At this elaborate gate  built in 1524, visitors were greeted, and high officials who had upset the sultan were arrested and strangled. Most of the museums have longer opening hours during summer months. The architect Sinan decorated the kitchens after a big fire and the kitchen was not enough due to the increase in population. At first, the Harem was left in the Old Palace and was moved to its present Moreover, there are a lot of great silver products you can see in the kitchens.The palace kitchen is also long and has different sections as follows. The Topkapi Palace which was the Imperial Palace of the Ottoman reign during the period from the 15th century to the 19th century, was originally commissioned for construction by Mehmet the Conqueror soon after the Ottomans conquered Turkey in 1453. However, the more things were kept secret; all the more stories were invented about it. Today there is a nice collection of Chinese and some Japanese porcelains collection and the silverware at separate sections of the kitchens. Just below the Mecidiye kiosk, there is a self service cafeteria and a restaurant today. So, you can see steelyards, storage vessels, sherbet jars in this pantry. The fourth courtyard of Topkapi Palace, Mecidiye Pavillion; Wooden Sofa Pavillion; Includes Baghdat, Revan and Summer Pavillions. A maze of rooms and corridors, the Harem was a closed world occupied by the sultan’s wives, concubines and children. The palace was opened to the public as a museum in 1924 by the order of Ataturk. Please note that admission fees, opening times or days of closure of the museums might be changed without prior notice, or that museum or section might be closed for restorations. Hence, it became the subject on which the greatest variety of rumor was being produced, in the past as in the present. Mehmet’s palace was also the seat of government, and contained a college for training officials and soldiers. You can buy the "Museum Pass" for foreigners which is valid for 3 and 5 days in various museums of Istanbul. Privacy Policy Today, the Harem is a separate museum within the palace complex and there are escorted tours at certain hours of the day. The Baghdad Kiosk in the Fourth Courtyard was built to commemorate the 1638 Baghdad Campaign of Sultan Murad IV (1612-1640). Pass through the Imperial Gate into the First Court, which is known as the Court of the Janissaries or the Parade Court. Die reiche Amerikanerin Elizabeth Lipp fälscht leidenschaftlich gerne wertvolle Schmuckstücke sowie Edelsteine, lässt sie sich aber bisweilen auch auf illegale Weise beschaffen. In the collection, up to 730 Japanese porcelains can be found ranging from 17th to 19th centuries. The Topkapi Dagger (which features in a popular 1964 heist movie). Former dormitories of the Expeditionary Forces, now housing the Imperial Wardrobe Collection (. Mosque: There was a dedicated mosque for the cooks. On the right, you will see the Palace Kitchens. The museum is closed to visitors in the morning of the first day of religious holidays. John the Baptist : biography c. 6 BC – c. 30 AD The saint’s right hand, with which he baptised Jesus, is claimed to be in the Serbian Orthodox Cetinje monastery in Montenegro; Topkapi Palace in Istanbul; and also in the Romanian skete of the Forerunner on Mount Athos. The Treasury also houses the Topkapi Dagger, the 86-carat "Spoon Maker's Diamond", and the jewel-encrusted bones of St. John the Baptist. John’s downfall came, when Herod had him thrown into prison, for publically accusing him of divorcing his wife, Phasaelis, and unlawfully marrying his brother Philip’s wife, Herodias. The Treasury is housed in four rooms in the third court of Topkapi Palace, built by Sultan Mehmed II (1451-1481). It is best to plan your visit ahead of time. The Topkapi Palace is the biggest and one of the most popular sites to visit in Istanbul. Click here for high resolution photo gallery of the Topkapi Palace. Spanish This place being the Sultan’s private space; it was not allowed to reveal what was happening inside. The Imperial Sofa was a place to relax, its gardens studded with pavilions built by successive sultans. It was served to 10,000 to 15,000 people in some days. Topkapi Palace (Directions) : Fresh from his conquest of Constantinople, Mehmet II built Topkapi Sarayi as his main residence in 1459–65. The original use of the Palace was the house for the Sultan; today, the Palace is functioning as a museum. The palace kitchen contains a total of 10,700 Chinese pieces ranging from 13th to 20th centuries. Imperial pantry: The pantry was the storage location of foods consumed at the palace. | Destinations | Get a Quote | Blog | Contact Us |. Fax: +90 212 5285991. From this gate anybody could pass but only the sultan would be on the horse, while all others on foot. Moreover, there was an outer pantry for registration of foods before carrying the imperial pantry. After the Conquest of Constantinople in 1453, Mehmet II ordered to built his palace in its present location on top of the ancient Byzantine ruins, meanwhile he spent some time during its construction at a smaller palace where there is the University of Istanbul today, in Bayezit square. We always want to know more, to see what is behind closed doors. The Topkapi Palace is in the Sultanahmet neighborhood near Eminonu in the Old City area, and is open daily between 09:00 – 17:00 except on Tuesdays. was the very last building ever constructed in the palace. In Turkish the current name of the palace, Topkapı, means Cannon Gate. Imperial Treasury displays a vast collection of art, jewelry and precious stones in three rooms, and is a must-see feature. Phone: +90 212 5120480 In the Synoptics (Mark, Matthew, and Luke), Jesus is baptized. Istanbul's Topkapi Palace is full of awe-inspiring ceilings like this. Although it was very busy when we were there, there were sections of the palace that were quieter than others and the only line up we experienced was 20 minutes for the Treasury. Next to this hall, there are several other rooms with the paintings of the sultans, miniatures, old clocks etc. The location of the Palace is just behind the Hagia Sophia in the historical city center of Istanbul. The Knights Templar. Upon entry into the first courtyard, visitors see stone nichesthat used to display the severed heads of criminals. The second gate has two guard towers and is called "Gate of Salutation", because everybody had to salute the sultan before going through. From this gate, only the sultan and people working in the palace could pass, it wasn't for the public access. Privy Chamber displays some of the holiest relics of Islam. The gateway leads into the Second Courtyard (Divan Meydanı), where the Treasury now has a magnificent display of arms and armor. While government moved across the road to the Sublime Porte in the 16th century, Topkapı continued as the sultan’s palace until Abdül Mecit I moved to Dolmabahçe Palace in 1853. They have a piece of skull and an arm that they claimed to be from John the Baptist as well as a piece of beard belonging to the prophet Muhammad. And here's John's skull inside this jeweled case. Following we have transcribed what appears on the plaques next to the Relic's Case found at the Treasury of the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul - Turkey. location only one century later by sultan Murad III, again with the addition of several buildings during many years. The sultan only used this immense rococo style gate and the square (Divan Meydanı) in front of it during special ceremonies. Terms & Conditions Topkapi Palace was the residence of Ottoman Sultans for 400 years. Topkapi Palace’s Harem was the private haven of the Ottoman Sultan and his extended family at Topkapi Palace. But in the end it was the residential quarters of the Sultan… People are always interested in the unknown, curious about what is hidden. Once you pass the first gate, Imperial Gate, you'll be in the first courtyard called as the "Courtyard of the Regiments". Topkapi Palace was home to all the Ottoman sultans until the reign of Abdulmecid I (1839-1860), a period of nearly four centuries. Thank you for the beatiful pictures of Topkapi. According to the Gospels, John was put to death by beheading on the orders of the local ruler, Herod Antipas. The Harem entry is also in this courtyard just behind the Divan chamber. On the left of the third courtyard, there is the Holly Relics section where religiously important items are displayed, such as the mantle, footprint, a tooth and hair of the Prophet Mohammed, swords of the first caliphs, container of the Black Stone from Ka'ba, and so on. It displays the sword of the prophet Mohammed, one of his teeth, a hair of his beard, an autographed letter, and the most sacred treasure, his mantle. But local people called it as "Topkapi" which in Turkish means "Gate of Cannons" because of huge cannons displayed outside of its gates, those which were used during the Conquest. Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum is re-opened after restorations. There are two small scale models of the palace on the right and a big map showing the foundation and expansion of the Ottoman Empire. Home; Books; Search; Support. To the right of the courtyard, there are palace kitchens where there were between 800-1,000 cooks preparing food for this 10,000 people living in the palace. This piece is currently preserved in Topkapi [Palace] museum, in Istanbul. John the Baptist was the son of Zachary, a priest of the Temple in Jerusalem, and Elizabeth, a kinswoman of Mary who visited her. For us, we were interested in seeing the artifacts and the living quarters. I made this long list of things that I wanted to visit, and I didn’t think it through at all. First Court . The former State Treasury, present home to an exhibition of weapons and armor, hence called the Weapons Room (Silahlar). The Destimal Chamber is the room in which Abraham’s Pot, Joseph’s Turban, Moses’s Staff, David’s Sword, scrolls belonging to John the Baptist, and Muhammad’s footprint are on display. How-To Tutorials; Suggestions; Machine Translation Editions; Noahs Archive Project; About Us. The palace became the largest palace in the world, a city within a city. The museum in Topkapi Palace is where they keep religious artifacts. However, it ultimately ended up in the Topkapi Palace. Exhibits include hairs from the Prophet’s beard, one of his teeth, two of his swords and the sacred standard used during his military campaigns. The palace is also a holy spot for Muslims containing relics of Muhammad and other prophets — some of whom are revered in both the Bible and the Koran.