Jewels, Sultans & Harem Secrets: Unveiling Topkapi Palace

Topkapı Palace ⭐⭐was originally called the "New Palace" to distinguish it from the Old Palace in Beyazıt Square. After the end of the Ottoman Empire in 1923, a government decree dated April 3, 1924 transformed Topkapı into a museum.  

The palace complex:^[1]
◦ Consists of four main courtyards and many smaller buildings. 

• Female members of the Sultan's family lived in the harem, and leading state officials held meetings in the Imperial Council building.

◦ Has hundreds of rooms and chambers, but only the most important are accessible to the public as of 2020, including

• Ottoman Imperial Harem 
• Hazine (i.e., the treasury) where the Spoonmaker's Diamond and the Topkapi Dagger are on display.

◦ Is located on the Seraglio Point (Sarayburnu), a promontory overlooking the Golden Horn

• Where the Bosphorus Strait meets the Marmara Sea. 
• The terrain is hilly and the palace itself is located at one of the highest points close to the sea.

Photo Gallery

The below photos were taken on 03/23/2023.

Gateway to History: Approaching Istanbul's Topkapi Palace

Blue Mosque (i.e., Sultanahmet Camii) on the left

15 Temmuz Şehitler Köprüsü (a suspension bridge built in 1973)

Istanbul Central Business District in the background

Treasures of Istanbul: Unveiling the Legendary Spoonmaker's Diamond 

Topkapi Palace in Istanbul (YouTube link)

References

1. Topkapı Palace (Wikipedia)