The Topkapi Palace Museum (Topkapi Sarayi-Istanbul-Turkey)

Topkapi Palace (Topkapi Sarayi) was home to all the Ottoman sultans until the reign of Abdulmecid I (1839-1860), a period of nearly four centuries. The order for the construction of the Topkapi Palace on the Seraglio Point overlooking both Marmara and Bosphorus was given by Mehmed II after the conquest of Constantinapolis in 1453. The place was then an ancient olive grove. The final form of the first palace covered an area 700m², and was enclosed with fortified walls 1400 meters in length.  The walls were pierced by a number of gates, namely the Otluk gate, the Demir gate and the Imperial gate (Bab-i Humayun), and a number of minor angled gates between them. After the reign of Mehmed II the Conqueror, the palace grew steadily to form a city like complex of buildings and annexes, including a shore palace known as the Topkapi shore palace, as it was situated near the cannon gate -Topkapi- of the ancient walls of Istanbul. When the shore palace was burned down in 1863, it lent its name to the great complex we now know as Topkapi Palace. The main portal, the Bab-i Humayun, was suited next to the mosque of Ayasofya (Haghia Sophia Church), and this led a series of four courts surrounded by various structures. The courts, chambers, pavilions and other sections can be viewed at the floor plan of Topkapi Palace.
In this page, one can find pointers to the pictures of illuminated manuscript pages in the museum sections and pictures of sections illustrating the architecture of the palace.

Here is an excellent article by Prof. Metin And about the Palace from Skylife magazine of Turkish Airlines .

Please visit the pages below at the index to get more information on the Palace and Museum.

Topkapi Palace Museum Index

• Historical Background of the Topkapi Palace

• Guide to Topkapi Palace

• Various Sections of the Museum of Topkapi Palace (Sarayi): Interior Architecture

• Harem

• Imperial Treasury at Topkapi Palace Museum

• Palace attire and garments at Topkapi Palace Museum

• Porcelains in the Topkapi Palace Museum Istanbul Turkey

  • Photo Gallery of the Ancient Porcelains at Museum of Topkapi Palace in Istanbul Turkey

• Guns and Armory

• Portraits of the Ottoman Sultans

• Museum contact and visitor's information

• Books and documents about Topkapi Palace Museum

• Books, Maps and Calligraphic documents at Topkapi Palace MUseum

• Miniatures from the Topkapi Museum

• Clocks

• The chambers of the Sacred Relics

• Related Links for Topkapi Palace Museum

  • Recent Topkapi Palace Museum web-site of Turkish Ministry of Tourism And Culture

  • Turks: A journey of 1000 years-Royal Academy of Arts

  • Anatolia and the Caucasus-The Metropolitan Museum of Art

  • Topkapi Palace Photo Gallery-Dick Osseman

This page is supervised by Prof. Enis Cetin , Dept. of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Bilkent University , Ankara, Turkey.
Comments to history@bilkent.edu.tr
E-mail address of the Museum topkapisarayi@atlas.net.tr

Due to huge number of spam e-mails neither they nor I probably can read your e-mail.
You may donate money to the Museum: Topkapi Sarayini Sevenler Dernegi, Is Bankasi, Cagaologlu Subesi (Branch No: 1095), Account Number: 562461
Or contact the museum: Ms. Sevgi Agca, +90 212 512 0480 extension 169

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