 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 |
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 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 |
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 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 |
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 Paved walkway through the Harem |
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 Dormitory of the Black Eunuchs, Harem, Topkapi Palace |
 Leading from the Courtyard of the Black Eunuchs to the Main Gate of the Harem |
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 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) |
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 In the name of God the Merciful, the Compassionate |
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 Entrance to Sultan's Hamam |
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 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 |
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 Detail of the Imperial Hall |
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 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 |
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 Privy Chamber of Murat III |
 Privy Chamber of Murat III |
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 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 |
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 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 |
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 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) |
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 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 |
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 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 |
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 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 |
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 Baghdad Pavilion |
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 Baghdad Pavilion and Marble Terrace, Fourth Court |
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 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 |
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 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 |
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 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 |