Topkapi Palace in Istanbul (Topkapı Sarayı). Topkapi Palace in Istanbul - the mysterious residence of the sultans of the Ottoman Empire and a real treasury Interiors and collections

In Istanbul (Topkapi Sarayi) is one of the main attractions of the city. For 400 years, Topkapi Palace was the main residence of the sultans. From here, 25 sultans of the Ottoman Empire ruled the country.

In one of the courtyards of Topkapi Palace

A little history

It was built after the conquest of Constantinople in 1475-1478 by order of Sultan Mehmed II (the Conqueror). At first, the Sultan himself lived in the palace, official meetings and meetings, receptions were also held here, and in the mid-16th century, at the request of Roksolana, Sultan Suleiman I built a Harem in the palace, where women and children settled.

How to get there

Topkapi Palace in Istanbul is located in the center of the old city in the Sultanahmet district.

Take the T1 tram to the Gulhane stop and walk a little up, as if going back. By the way, there is a wonderful one nearby. Or get off at the Sultanahmet stop and walk down past Hagia Sophia.
If you are coming from the Asian side of Istanbul, it is convenient to use Marmaray and get off at Sirkeci station

Topkapi Palace opening hours

Opening hours of Topkapi Palace:

from 9:00 to 16:45 from October 2 to April 1, ticket office closes at 16:00
from 9:00 to 18:45 from April 1 to October 2, ticket office closes at 18:00

Topkapi Palace is a magnificent architectural monument of the 15th century. This majestic palace complex was erected on the initiative of Sultan Mehmet in 1479. For several centuries in a row, Topkapi was considered the main residence of the rulers of the Ottoman state. Today it's wonderful museum complex, which should be watched by everyone who has ever visited Turkish lands.

The name “Topkapi” translated into Russian means “cannon gate”. This name is justified by a historical fact: whenever the padishah traveled outside his monastery, cannon shots were heard, which were heard throughout the area for several kilometers.

The palace architecture is extremely interesting. Topkapi includes 4 equal courtyards, each of which is famous for its unique attractions. The courtyards have a clear division, but at the same time they are all united by a high stone wall surrounding them.

First courtyard (Alay Meydanı)

One of the main attractions of the First Court, called by Europeans the “Court of the Janissaries,” is the Church of St. Irene. This is one of the first Christian shrines in Constantinople, which served for a long time as the main abode of the patriarch. The church suffered several times from various disasters (fire and earthquake), but was always restored. Even after the Ottoman conquerors came to these lands, the church building was not deprived of its Orthodox status, which is surprising, because the Turks usually remodeled Christian churches in the mosque. Ottoman warriors used the shrine as an armory for a long time (for 3 centuries). In the mid-19th century, a museum complex of antiquities and weapons was opened here.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the museum exhibition was disbanded, and today the Church of St. Irene (Aya İrini or Aya Irene) is increasingly used as a concert venue due to its magnificent, mesmerizing acoustics. At the same time, the building has not lost its charm over the years and continues to attract tourists from all over the world.

Gate of Welcome (Babüsselam)

Of particular interest is the Orta kapa gate (Babüsselam or Gate of Greetings), also located in the First Courtyard. Through them you can get to the Second Palace Courtyard. Historical facts indicate that only the ruler himself had the right to enter on horseback through the arch of this gate, framed by two tower columns. The rest had to walk. Foreign guests residences used a different gate to enter. The gatekeepers carefully monitored this. On one side of the gate there was a waiting room in which visitors could wait for days, or even weeks, for an audience with the padishah. On the other side is the room of the executioner, who, by the way, had another position - head gardener. Under the gate, in the dungeon, there were prison cells in which prisoners sentenced to death were kept.

Entrance of the Sultan (Babıhümayun)

It is also interesting to admire the architecture of another gate leading to the First Courtyard. This is the third ceremonial gate, called “Entrance of the Sultan” (Babıhümayun).

Second courtyard (Divan Meydanı)

The second courtyard of Topkapi is known as "Divan Square". This territory was most often used for important receptions and state ceremonies.

Sofa (Divan-ı Hümayun)

In this courtyard there was a “Divan” (Kubbealtı or Divan-ı Hümayun), where high-ranking viziers led by the padishah met several times a week to resolve matters of national importance.

Tower of Justice (Adalet Kasrı)

Above the Divanna rises a tower of magnificent beauty and grandeur, bearing a very bright and succinct name - “Tower of Justice” (Adalet Kasrı), which originally served as an observation post.

Treasury (Dış Hazine)

The main asset of the Second Topkapi Courtyard after the Divanna is, of course, the Treasury (Dış Hazine). Today, a weapons museum complex has been founded in its building, which displays an entire arsenal of weapons from various historical periods, as well as samples of military uniforms and other paraphernalia used for uniforms.

Third Court (Enderun Avlusu)

Third Courtyard (Enderun Avlusu)

Another gate leads into this courtyard with the attractive name “Gate of Bliss.” Another name for them is the audience gate. Having passed through them, the visitor found himself in a huge throne room, above which towered the golden throne of the padishah, decorated with precious stones. The Sultan sat on it. All the rest were traditionally placed directly on the floor, on special pillows. To prevent anyone from hearing what was happening in the hall outside the door, a small but loudly murmuring fountain was built right next to the entrance.

Library of Ahmet the Third (III. Ahmed Kütüphanesi)

The central part of the courtyard is decorated with the library of Sultan Ahmet the Third (III. Ahmed Kütüphanesi). Once upon a time, real treasures of ancient literature were kept here. Today the books are displayed in other museum displays, but the library building is definitely worth a visit to admire the amazing Ottoman architecture. Here you can also see an amazing collection of items from the padishah’s wardrobe. Some of the most expensive exhibits are considered to be the children's caftan of Sultan Selim, as well as the robe of Mehmed the Conqueror, which, according to scientists, is already more than 5 centuries old.

Sultan's Treasury (Enderun Hazinesi)

But, of course, the most attractive place for a traveler in the Third Courtyard of Topkapi is the Sultan’s Treasury (Fatih Köşkü or Enderun Hazinesi). The variety of the collection of countless treasures made of gold, silver and gems is amazing! One of the most noticeable and expensive exhibits is the military armor of Mustafa the Third. The chain mail, made of iron, is decorated with a scattering of precious stones and covered with a layer of gilding. The Sultan's shield and sword are inlaid in the same way.

Throne of the Padishah

The throne of Padishah Murat the Fourth is called the real “pearl” of the treasury. It itself is made of rare ebony wood, and precious and semi-precious stones are scattered around its entire perimeter.

Topkapi Dagger

In another room there is another important exhibit - the Topkapi dagger (Topkapı hançeri). It was made by Turkish craftsmen as a gift to the Persian Shah. Many diamonds and several large emeralds adorn this dagger. True, he never reached the addressee. While the gift was on the way, the Shah was killed, so the Topkapi dagger returned to the treasury.

Almaz Kashikchi

The treasury also contains a huge Kaşıkçı elması diamond, the history of which is very interesting. According to legend, a certain poor man discovered this stone in a huge pile of garbage. Of course, the commoner did not know how valuable the gem was, and exchanged it at the market for 3 wooden spoons. Since then, the stone has been called the Spoonman's Diamond.

These are not all the exhibits from the Topkapi treasury. All the splendor of the rooms is difficult to describe in words; you need to see it with your own eyes at least once!

Fourth Courtyard (Dördüncü Avlu)

This courtyard is an example of harmonious beauty and peace. It was built exclusively for the padishah’s rest and solitude, so it is more reminiscent of a marvelous Garden of Eden. From here you can enjoy magnificent views of the Sea of Marmara, the Bosphorus Strait and the Princes' Islands.

Bagdat Pavilion

On the territory of the courtyard there are many terraces and pavilions, the most notable of which are the Bagdatsky and Revan pavilions, as well as the Sunnet room.

Sunnet Odasy

The Sünnet Odası room, as the name implies for those who have at least a superficial understanding of Muslim traditions, was intended for the obligatory circumcision ceremony of the Sultan’s heirs.

Revan Pavilion (Revan Köşkü)

The Baghdad Pavilion (Bağdat Köşkü) as well as the Revan Pavilion (Revan Köşkü) are magnificent monuments of Ottoman architecture, the appearance of which can be traced to the influence of the Persians. The buildings are light and elegant, but at the same time they look luxurious and monumental. You can look at the exquisite tiles that decorate the walls of the pavilions literally from top to bottom for hours and find more and more new details in them.

Opening hours of the Topkapi Palace Museum and cost of visiting in 2020

You can purchase tickets to Topkapi Palace, which provide skip-the-line entry, a floor plan of the palace and the necessary information from a representative who will guide you through the shortest route

The museum is closed on Tuesdays; also on the first day of Bayram it is open from lunch.

The entrance ticket costs 72 Turkish lira.

Entrance to the Harem is open every day except Tuesday and is paid separately - the ticket price is 42 Turkish lira.

For Museum Card holders, admission is free.

Audio guide – 45 liras.

During the winter period from October 2 to April 1: Topkapi Palace Museum, Harem and St. Irene Church are open from 09:00 – 16:45 (ticket sales until 16:00)

During the summer period from April 1st to October 2nd: The Museum, Harem and Church of St. Irene are open from 9:00 – 18:45 (ticket sales until 18:00)

The Church of St. Irene is open to the public from 9:00 to 17:00. The entrance ticket costs 30 Turkish lira. After 16:00 the ticket office is closed.

When visiting religious sites, try to adhere to the established rules in clothing: short shorts and miniskirts, as well as open blouses and strapless tops are not acceptable.

Baby strollers are not allowed into the museum.

There are several restaurants on the museum grounds.

Karakol Restaurant

In the First Courtyard there is the Karakol Restaurant, as well as a small cafe BKG Müze’nin Kahvesi. There is also such a cafe in the Second Courtyard.

Restaurant Konyalı lokantası

In the Fourth Courtyard there is the Konyalı Lokantası restaurant, which offers a magnificent view of the Bosphorus Strait.

How to get to Topkapi Palace:

From Sultanahmet station you need to walk past the front part of the Hagia Sophia Museum (Hagia Sophia), following the signs towards Topkapi Palace.

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In 1479, by order of Sultan Mehmed, the Topkapi Palace was built, which until the mid-19th century was the main residence of the Turkish padishahs. Today it is one of the richest museums in the world and one of Istanbul's favorite attractions.

Topkapi Palace was built on the site of an older palace of Byzantine rulers, near the coast of the Sea of Marmara.

“Topkapi” (sometimes pronounced Topkapi) is translated as “cannon gate”, the name is not accidental, since every time the Sultan left his residence, a cannon shot should have been heard.

What to see

Topkapi is an entire palace complex with an area of seven hundred thousand square meters, consisting of four separate courtyards stretching for five kilometers. There was an orphanage, a treasury, a divan (something like the Turkish government), an armory (located in the building of the Church of St. Irene, the main cathedral of the princes of Constantinople), bakeries, the stables of the Sultan, a luxurious garden and flower terraces with fountains, at some distance there was Tiled palace where the concubines lived.

The palace's service staff numbered about five thousand people - over a thousand people worked in the kitchen alone.

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Architecture

The architecture of the palace is quite diverse; different styles are mixed here, because the palace was repeatedly destroyed due to fires or earthquakes, and then it was rebuilt, each time making certain adjustments. In 1856, a new residence was erected in Istanbul, which responded to the spirit of the times and was somewhat inferior in color to the Topkapi Palace, but since then only the wives of the once first statesmen lived here. In 1924, when Türkiye acquired the status of a republic, the palace was turned into a museum.

Interiors and collections

Now here are exhibits that were once the pride of the Turkish padishahs. In particular, in the museum you can see perhaps the most unique collection of porcelain - a total of twelve thousand items, including white porcelain products, the only ones in Europe. Also presented here are various kitchen utensils, silver tableware, precious jewelry of the sultans and their wives, and even thrones made of precious wood, completely covered with gold, decorated with ivory, pearls and other precious stones.

Due to the lack of space, only the most valuable exhibits of the collection are exhibited in the Topkapi Museum; in total there are more than sixty thousand of them (only the Romanov and Habsburg dynasties left behind a richer legacy). In addition, there are also the relics of Jonah the Baptist, the staff of Moses, before whom, according to legend, they made way depths of the sea, the sword of David and the brazier of Abraham.

How to get

The museum is open from 9:00 to 19:00 in summer time and until 16:00 in winter, closed on Tuesday. Entrance fee - 72 TRY; harem - 42 TRY.

Prices on the page are as of November 2018.

The majestic, monumental and luxurious Topkapi Sultan's Palace in Turkey, like a magnet, attracts tourists from all over the world.

Once you go there, you will plunge into a world where twenty-five Turkish sultans once lived and ruled. It is better to set aside a whole day to tour the palace. You won't be able to see everything at once.

Therefore, before you go on an exciting journey through the palace, we advise you to read our article so as not to miss anything.

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History of Topkapi Palace in Istanbul

For four decades, the heart of the Ottoman Empire was Top Kapi, Türkiye, the palace (photo of the harem in our article just below) was ordered to be built by Sultan Mehmed. This happened in the 70s of the 15th century, but after that the Sultan’s Topkapi Palace constantly “grew” and changed. Initially, several mosques, a mint, hospitals and a bakery were built.

In the first fifty years, Top Capy was only a working residence. The Sultan's wives lived in a harem outside the Topkapi Palace. The harem on the territory was built only under Sultan Suleiman I. One of his concubines, Roksolana, wanting to be closer to her husband, “pushed” the Sultan to large-scale reconstruction of the palace.

Almost until the end of the 19th century, Turkish sultans lived in the palace. And only Abdul-Mejid I, in 1854, decided to move to new palace Dolmabahce. With the coming to power of Turkey's first president, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, in 1923, Topkapi became a museum, which is now visited by hundreds of tourists every day.

WITH Turkish language The name Topkapi translates as “cannon gate”. This name for the residence of the sultans was not given by chance. The first thing that all visitors notice is the majestic gate that gives access to the heart of the castle. When the Sultan entered or left the palace, a cannon shot was heard. There are also some in Turkey that are worthy of your attention.

As if Small town in Turkey, Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, a photo that amazes with its wealth and beauty, was equipped with everything necessary for life. It is so huge (its area is more than 170 hectares) that there was everything from mosques and workrooms of the sultans, to hospitals and Janissary barracks.

The population of Istanbul is increasing several times every day, so that the country may soon become a leader in population. Click here and find out where it all started.
You may also be interested in such a landmark as the Sultan Suleiman Palace in Istanbul, about which you can find out more.

The territory is divided into four courtyards. You can also get into each of them through monumental gates. Passing through the main gate, you will see a huge fountain, which was built by order of Padishah Ahmed III in 1728.

Further, through the “Brilliant Gate” you will find yourself in the first courtyard. Here you can see the gendarme headquarters, various living quarters, as well as the ruins of a bakery. You should definitely visit the Istanbul Archaeological Museum and the mint building. There is a church on the territory of the first courtyard.

To get to the second courtyard, you will need to go through another gate called “Bab-i Selam”. There is also a magnificent garden with cypress trees and a tower that once served as a prison for convicted high-ranking persons.

Of particular interest to tourists are the “Palace Kitchens”. Food for the sultans was prepared here, and almost a quarter of the entire palace staff worked here. Today in the kitchen halls you can see a rare collection of porcelain. The oldest exhibits date back to the seventh century, these are dishes from the Tang Dynasty. The most valuable items are made from white porcelain.

The Topkapi Palace in Istanbul houses one of the world's largest collections of weapons. Those who are interested are advised to take a look at the collections of Islamic frescoes and manuscripts.

The exhibition of jewelry and jewelry is truly unique. Golden candlesticks, hookahs, luxurious ivory boxes, as well as the famous “Kashikchi Diamond” are just a small part of what you can see in the inner treasury complex.

It wouldn’t hurt to take a look at the collection of the Sultan’s caftans. The clothes and silk prayer rugs are truly works of art.

Harem deserves special attention. The high wall with which it is surrounded used to hide the concubines from the views of strangers. There was everything for a comfortable life for the Sultan’s wives: two mosques, Turkish baths, kitchens and even a swimming pool. Visitors will be able to see collections of luxurious jewelry and clothing, and stroll near the fountains. Istanbul amazes with its numerous magnificent... I would like to see all the sights, this will help you.

We have collected the most interesting and significant places in Topkapi Palace; you will find photos of all the rooms of the Istanbul Palace in our selection.