Topkapi Palace is full of colorful stories. Sultans, courtiers, beautiful concubines and scheming eunuchs lived here. They wrote history together between the 15th and 19th centuries.

History of Topkapi Palace

First built by Mehmet the Conqueror in the 15th century, this glorious palace beside the Bosphorus was where the sultans of the Ottoman Empire ruled over their dominions up until the 19th century. The vast complex is a dazzling display of Islamic art, with opulent courtyards lined with intricate hand-painted tile-work, linking a warren of sumptuously decorated rooms, all bounded by battlemented walls and towers.

After the founding of the Republic of Turkey, Topkapı Palace was converted into a museum on April 3, 1924, having the distinction of being the first museum of the Republic. Today, Topkapı Palace is one of the largest palace-museums in the world with its buildings, architecture, collections and approximately 300,000 archive documents.

Upon entering the sultanate gate, the palace structures consist of four transitional courtyards and the surrounding architectural structures. Among the palace structures surrounded by gardens and squares, are the first courtyard known as Alay Square, Hagia Eirene Church, Royal Mint, bakery, hospital, wood warehouse, and wicker makers’ house.

The second courtyard of the palace is Divan Square, notable for being where the state administration takes place, also called Justice Square. Divan-ı Hümayun (Kubbealtı), the scene of many ceremonies throughout history, was the official meeting place of the Divan council, and the treasury is located right next to it. The Justice Tower is located behind the Divan structure, the entrance to the Harem next to Kubbealtı, with the courtyard also housing the Ward of the “Zülüflü” Guards (The Tressed Halberdiers) and the Royal Stables.

The third courtyard of the palace is also called Enderun Courtyard. In this section houses the Sultan’s Audience Hall, Enderun Treasure, the Privy Room, as well as structures such as the Palace School established during the reign of Sultan Murat II.

In the fourth courtyard, which is the last courtyard, there are pavilions and hanging gardens of the Sultan. In this section, there are the Baghdad and Revan Pavilions and the Iftaree Gazebo, which are the most distinguished and aesthetically advanced examples of Ottoman classical mansion architecture. In the lower part of the fourth courtyard, Mecidiye Pavilion and the Wardrobe Chamber are the last buildings of the palace.

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