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The Topkapi Palace (literally the "Cannongate Palace" - named after a nearby gate), located in Istanbul, was the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire from 1465 to 1853.
The construction of the Topkapi Palace was ordered by Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror in 1459. It was completed in 1465. The palace is located on the Seraglio Point between the Golden Horn and the Sea of Marmara in Istanbul, having a splendid view of the Bosphorus. It consists of many smaller buildings built together and surrounded by four courts.
The palace is full of examples of Ottoman style architecture and also owns large collections of porcelain, robes, weapons, shields, armors, Ottoman miniatures, Islamic calligraphic manuscripts and mural decorations, as well as a display of accumulated Ottoman treasures and jewelry.
In 1853, Sultan Abdülmecid decided to move his residence to the newly built Dolmabahçe Palace, the first European-style palace in the city. Today the Topkapi Palace serves as a museum for the imperial era, and is one of Istanbul's greatest tourist attractions.
Compared to other famous royal residences like the Schönbrunn Palace or the extravagant Versailles, Topkapi Palace distinguishes itself with its human proportions, sensible interiors and prudent layout.
History of Topkapi Palace
Topkapi Palace constructed by Fatih Sultan Mehmet, (the Conqueror) in 1478 has been the official residence of the Otoman Sultans and center of State Administration around 380 years until the construction of Dolmabahçe Palace by Sultan Abdülmecid. The palace having around 700.000 m.² area during the foundation years has currently 80.000 m.² area.
Topkapi Palace was evacuated by the accommodation of the Palace inhabitants in Dolmabahçe, Yildiz and in other palaces. Upon abandoning by the Sultans, Topkapi Palace where many officials resided had also never lost its importance. The palace was repaired from time to time. A special attention was taken for the annual maintenance of Mukaddes Emanetler Dairesi (Sacred Safekeeping Rooms) visited by the sultan and his family during Ramadan.
The opening of Topkapi Palace for visits as museum happened firstly in the reign of Sultan Abdülmecid (1839-1861). The belongings within Topkapi Palace Treasury was shown to the contemporary English ambassador. Later on, it has become a tradition to show the antics within the Topkapi Palace Treasury to the foreigners and during the era of Sultan Abdulaziz (1861-1876), showrooms are made in French style, and these antics are started to be shown to foreigners in these showrooms within Treasury. During the period when Sultan II Abdulhamid was dethroned (1876-1909), it was thought to open the Treasury Room to public visits on Sundays and Tuesdays, yet it never realized.
By the order of Ghazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, Topkapi Palace firstly affiliated to the Istanbul Asar-i Atika Museums Directorate and opened to public visits on date of April 3, 1924, then it started to service as Treasury Chamberlain, after it was renamed as Treasury Directorate and finally it was renamed as Topkapi Palace Museum Directorate and it still continues its services.
Upon the performance of small repairs and taking some administrative cautions in 1924, Topkapi Palace was opened to service as a Museum on October 9, 1924. The sections opened to visit at that time were Kubbealti, Arz Odasi, Mecidiye Köşkü (Pavilion Mecidiye), Hekimbaşi Odasi (Room of Chief Doctor), Mustafa Paşa Köşkü (Pavilion Mustafa Pasha) ve Bağdad Köşkü’dür (Pavilion Baghdad).
Official Website of Topkapi Palace www.topkapisarayi.gov.tr
Click the play button to watch the video of "Topkapi Palace Museum"
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