Topkapi Palace

Imperial Gate, Topkapi Palace	Imperial Gate, Topkapi Palace, 1478	Sultan Mahmoud II's tughra (monogram) over the Imperial Gate to Topkapi Palace built by Sultan Fatih	TurkeyApr06 842.jpg
Green First Court, Court of the Janissaries	Turkish school group heading through the First Court to Topkapi Palace	Young Turkish schoolboy in uniform	Church of Haghia Irene (Aya Irini Kiliesei) built by Justinian
Opening state of the various parts of Topkapi Palace	Dösim, Republic of Turkey Ministry of Culture and Tourism	Topkapi Paalce Museum	Gate of Salutations - Middle Gate - Topkapi Palace, built by Sulieman the Magnificent in 1524
Gate of Salutations, Topkapi Palace	Gate of Salutations, Topkapi Palace	Gate of Salutations - Middle Gate - Topkapi Palace	Gate of Salutations, Topkapi Palace
Hamam, a temporary exhibit, Topkapi Palace	Arabic inscription and Sultan's tughra over the Middle Gate, Topkapi Palace	La allah illa Allah Mohammed rasoul Allah - there is no god but God, Mohammed is the Prophet of God	Tughra of Sultan Mahmoud II (reigned 1808-1839)
Tughra of Mustafa III (1757-1774)	Model of the whole of Topkapi Palace and the surrounding First Court	Model of Topkapi Palace - the Harem	Model of Topkapi Palace - the Harem
Model of Topkapi Palace - northern part	Model of Topkapi Palace - detail of the Baghdad Kiosk and the Fourth Court	Model of Topkapi Palace - the Harem	Map of the Ottoman Empire during various periods
Tulips, Topkapi Palace. The reign of Sultan Ahmet III was known as the Tulip Age	Second Court, Topkapi Palace	Second Court, Topkapi Palace	Tulips and a large pottery vessel
Military arms lining the walls of the Second Court, Topkapi Palace	Tower of Justice - Adalet Kulesi	Tower of Justice, Topkapi Palace	The entrance to the Harem is below this tower
Tower of Justice	TurkeyApr06 888.jpg	Imperial Council Hall, Topkapi Palace	Dome of the Imperial Council Hall
Tughra of Sultan Mustafa II, reigned 1695-1703	Imperial Council Hall, Topkapi Palace	Detail of the Imperial Council Hall	Detail on the exterior of the Imperial Council Hall
Turkish high school student	Dad and a group of Turkish high school students waiting for the Harem tour	Dad spreading words of wisdom to the young people of Turkey against smoking	Quite the popular guy...
Ceiling near the entrance to the Harem	The Harem, "Private"	Entering the Harem through the Carriage Gate	Courtyard of the Black Eunuchs, Topkapi Palace Harem
Courtyard of the Black Eunuchs, Topkapi Palace Harem	Tiles in the Harem	TurkeyApr06 907.jpg	TurkeyApr06 912.jpg
Paved walkway through the Harem	TurkeyApr06 915.jpg	TurkeyApr06 918.jpg	Dormitory of the Black Eunuchs, Harem, Topkapi Palace
Leading from the Courtyard of the Black Eunuchs to the Main Gate of the Harem	TurkeyApr06 921.jpg	TurkeyApr06 922.jpg	Tiles, Harem
Concubines' Corridor	Cross design on the stone walkway through the Harem	Courtyard of the Sultan's Formal Wives and Concubines (Consorts)	Courtyard of the Sultan's Formal Wives and Concubines (Consorts)
Paintings in the arcade around the Formal Wives Courtyard	Paintings in the arcade around the Formal Wives Courtyard	Courtyard of the Sultan's Formal Wives and Concubines (Consorts)	Courtyard of the Sultan's Formal Wives and Concubines (Consorts)
TurkeyApr06 939.jpg	TurkeyApr06 940.jpg	TurkeyApr06 942.jpg	In the name of God the Merciful, the Compassionate
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TurkeyApr06 952.jpg	TurkeyApr06 953.jpg	Entrance to Sultan's Hamam	TurkeyApr06 955.jpg
Sultan's Hamam	Sultan's Hamam changing room	Sultan's Sink	Sultan's Shower
Sultan's Toilet	Imperial Hall, Topkapi Palace	Imperial Hall, Harem of Topkapi Palace	Dome of Imperial Hall
TurkeyApr06 972.jpg	Detail of the Imperial Hall	TurkeyApr06 982.jpg	Dutch blue glazed tiles in the Imperial Hall
Antechamber in the Harem	Beautifully tiled Antechamber, Harem	Beautifully tiled Antechamber, Harem	Privy Chamber of Murat III
Privy Chamber of Murat III	TurkeyApr06 997.jpg	Privy Chamber of Murat III	Privy Chamber of Murat III
TurkeyApr06 1001.jpg	Twin Pavilions (Double Kiosk)	Twin Pavilions (Double Kiosk)	Twin Pavilions (Double Kiosk)
Tile in the Twin Pavilions	Stained glass windows of the Twin Pavilions (Double Kiosk), Topkapi Palace	Stained glass window, Twin Pavilions	Stained glass window, Twin Pavilions
Stained glass windows of the Twin Pavilions (Double Kiosk), Topkapi Palace Harem	TurkeyApr06 1019.jpg	Passage from the Harem to the Favorites' Courtyard and Apartments	Favorites' Courtyard and Apartments
Windows of the Double Kiosk from the Favorites' Courtyard	Passage from the Harem to the Favorites' Courtyard and Apartments	Passage from the Harem to the Favorites' Courtyard and Apartments	TurkeyApr06 1033.jpg
TurkeyApr06 1034.jpg	Golden Road leading to the exit of the Harem	Mosque of the Eunuchs and Library, Third Courtyard	Mosque of the Eunuchs and Library, Third Court
Birdcage Gate to the Harem	Dad greeting Turkish schoolgirls	Gimme 5!	Inside the Gate of Felicity, the Third Courtyard
Private Audience Hall (Chamber of Petitions) with Bismi Allah Al-Rahman Al-Rahim over the door (1723)	TurkeyApr06 1047.jpg	TurkeyApr06 1048.jpg	There are many ornate water basins and taps
Third Courtyard	Patio of the Library of Ahmet III	Pavilion of the Sacred Relics	Pavilion of the Sacred Relics
Entrance way to the Pavilion of Sacred Relics and the Chamber of the Mantle of the Prophet	TurkeyApr06 1059.jpg	There is no god but God, Mohammed is the messenger of God	The Sacred Safekeeping Rooms contain numerous artefacts of the Prophet Mohammed
Northwest corner of the Third Court	Pavilion of the Sacred Relics	Enderun Library (Library of Ahmed III) 1719	Library of Ahmed III
Library of Ahmed III	Tulip Era vaulted ceiling, Library of Ahmed III	Tulip Era vaulted ceiling, Library of Ahmed III	Dome, Library of Ahmed III
Third Court, Topkapi Palace	Tulips, a favorite of Ahmed III	Tulips, Topkapi Palace	Third Court
Third Court	Third Court	Third Court	Tulips, Topkapi Palace
Tulips, Topkapi Palace	Third Court	Third Court	Pavilion of the Scared Relics
Fountain at the base of the stairs from the Library of Ahmet III, Third Court	Mosaic-style stone floor, Topkapi Palace	Mosaic-style stone floor, Topkapi Palace	Ship passing Topkapi Palace on the Bosphorus
View of the Bosphorus from Topkapi Palace	Ship on the Bosphorus with the intercontinental bridge in the distance	Bosphorus from Topkapi Palace	TurkeyApr06 1106.jpg
TurkeyApr06 1108.jpg	Konyali Restaurant, Topkapi Palace	Gate of the Privy Gardens, Fourth Court	View of the Golden Horn looking across to northern Istanbul
Suleiman Mosque from the Marble Terrace	Marble Terrace view	Marble Terrace and Baghdad Kiosk, 4th Court, Topkapi Palace	Galata Tower from Topkapi Palace
Iftariye Baldachin, where the sultans would break the fast during Ramadan	Pool off the Marble Terrace	Summer Pavilion built by Sultan Ibrahim in 1640	The Summer Pavilion was used for the circumcision of the crown princes so it is called the Circumcision Room
Detail of the roof of the Circumcision Room	Tiles in the Circumcision Room	Tiles in the Circumcision Room	Doorway in the Fourth Court
TurkeyApr06 1144.jpg	Baghdad Pavilion	TurkeyApr06 1146.jpg	Baghdad Pavilion and Marble Terrace, Fourth Court
TurkeyApr06 1149.jpg	TurkeyApr06 1150.jpg	TurkeyApr06 1151.jpg	TurkeyApr06 1152.jpg
TurkeyApr06 1153.jpg	TurkeyApr06 1155.jpg	Revan Kiosk, built by Murad IV 1635-36	Revan Kiosk also called Chamber of the Turbans
Tulip Garden, Fourth Court	Tulip Garden, Fourth Court	Tulip Garden, Fourth Court	Tulip Garden, Fourth Court
Tulip Garden, Fourth Court	Tulip Garden, Fourth Court	TurkeyApr06 1166.jpg	TurkeyApr06 1169.jpg
TurkeyApr06 1170.jpg	Gate of Felicity between the 2nd and 3rd Courts (seen here from the 2nd)	Gate of Felicity with a large tree in the 2nd Court	The Palace Kitchens
Silver objects on display in the Palace Kitchens	Silver objects on display in the Palace Kitchens	Palace Kitchens	Palace Kitchens
TurkeyApr06 1194.jpg	TurkeyApr06 1195.jpg	Topkapi Cat	Chikish - Exit
Sultan Tughra (Sultan Mahmoud II (r. 1808-1839) Topkapi Palace	Palace guard Topkapi	Mace - Topkapi Palace	Turkish Halberts and Maces (16th-18th C.), Topkapi Palace
Armory Museum - Topkapi Palace	Sword of Mehmed the Conqueror (1451-1481)	Sword of Süleyman the Magnificient	Topkapi Palace Armory
Topkapi Palace Armory	Sword of Murad II (1574-1595)	Sword of Selim III	Turkish Helmet, 17th C., Topkapi Palace Armory
Ottoman Armor, 16th. C., Topkapi Palace Armory	Bismillah Al-Rahman Al-Rahim	Topkapi Palace	View from Topkapi Palace
View from Topkapi Palace