Destinations
Jewel of the Ottoman Empire
Located on a peninsula in İstanbul and offering sweeping views of the Golden Horn, the Sea of Marmara and the straits of the Bosphorus, the Topkapı Palace was once the exalted seat of the Ottoman sultans. The palace was built in the 15th century at the behest of Sultan Mehmet II after the conquest of Constantinople. From the 15th to the 19th century, the palace was the cornerstone of the Ottoman Empire. Its power was ceded to the newer Dolmabahçe Palace on the coast.
Like any other palace, Topkapı Palace was rebuilt and renovated several times over the 400 years that various sultans ruled over it, but the basic and historical architectural form of the palace has remained essentially in place. Towards the end of the Ottoman Empire in 1923, the palace was eventually converted into a museum. In the various rooms of the palace, in the treasury and in the imperial harems, the essence of this past empire can still be felt. Numerous objects from the heyday of the Ottoman Empire adorn the museum today, from illuminated manuscripts and ancient weapons to diamonds and ornate miniatures and most important of all Sacred Relics including the Prophet’s Mantle.
The Pioneers of Today’s Cuisine
One of the most significant contributions of the palace was the cuisine, its culmination of Ottoman cuisine in terms of organisation, refinement of the palate and food culture is something any food lover would admire.
When visiting the kitchens, you get a real sense of the scale and grandeur of the Sultan’s passion for food. Over the centuries, thousands of chefs, workers, and apprentices of many different aspects of culinary art lived and worked in these kitchens, often pioneering flavours and tastes of cuisine that we appreciate today and are celebrating this year, the wonder of imperial cuisine that was brought to us from these humble walls.
Beautiful Palace Gardens
The Topkapı Palace Gardens surround the entire area of this historic structure from the First to the Fourth Courtyards. The gardens contain several kiosks and pavilions that date back to the 15th century. The landscape of the gardens follows the style of classical civilisation architecture from the city. As visitors make their way from one attraction to the next on the palace grounds, they can take time to admire the beauty of the lush green landscape and flowers.
The Sultan’s Residence
Although the Harem is part of the larger complex of Topkapı Palace, it was the exclusive domain of the royal family, the Sultan’s concubines and their guardians. The harem was constantly expanded and rebuilt to meet the needs of the royal family, creating a sight of beguiling beauty and architectural fascination. In its present form, the harem is a fusion of different architectural styles, a vast complex consisting of numerous rooms, a hospital, mosques and baths, all grouped around a magnificent courtyard.
