Finished with the Blue Mosque, we walked to Topkapi Palace. It is so great that all the grand attractions are within walking distance. Unfortunately, Hagia Sophia Museum was not part of our itinerary and it was just opposite the Blue Mosque. In the free city tour program by Turkish Airlines, it was either Hagia Sophia Museum or Topkapi Palace on each day. I suspect because there is an entrance fee, so it is an either-or place. In front of Topkapi Palace, I saw some food stalls selling the famous Turkish bread, which is exactly the same ones I had for breakfast this morning.
Sorry that my panorama photo looks weird with some of the people's faces cut off. Well, they were walking. But the Palace still looks grand. The entrance is TL40 but I got in for free. Remember, everything in the city tour is free. Hehe.
The Topkapı Palace or the Seraglio is a large palace in Istanbul, Turkey, that was one of the major residences of the Ottoman sultans for almost 400 years (1465–1856) of their 624-year reign. As well as a royal residence, the palace was a setting for state occasions and royal entertainments. It is now a museum and as such a major tourist attraction. It also contains important relics of the Muslim world, including Muhammed's cloak and sword. The Topkapı Palace is among the monuments contained within the "Historic Areas of Istanbul", which became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985, and is described under UNESCO's criterion iv as "the best example[s] of ensembles of palaces [...] of the Ottoman period.
The name of the palace was Saray-i Cedid-i Amire until the 18th century. The palace received its current name during Mahmud I's reign when the seaside palace, Topkapusu Sâhil Sarâyı (Cannon Gate Palace by the Sea) was destroyed in a fire, its name was transferred to the Palace. In Turkish the current name of the palace, Topkapı, means Cannon Gate. Source from Wikipedia.
I love it when I am visiting a UNESCO place. It is definitely a place worth visiting when it falls in the category of UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The sultan would enter the palace through the Imperial Gate, also known as "Gate of the Sultan" located to the south of the palace. This massive gate, originally dating from 1478, is now covered in 19th-century marble. The massiveness of this stone gate accentuates its defensive character. Its central arch leads to a high-domed passage. Gilded Ottoman calligraphy adorns the structure at the top, with verses from the Qur'an and tughras (A tughra is a calligraphic monogram, seal or signature of a sultan that was affixed to all official documents and correspondence) of the sultans. The Imperial Gate is the main entrance into the First Courtyard. Source from Wikipedia.
Murad, the tour leader showed us the Asian side of the Turkey that is separated by the Bosphorus, or the Turkish Straits. The Palace has a huge garden. Or what they call them as courtyards because it is an enclosed area surrounded by walls.
The large Gate of Salutation, also known as the Middle Gate, leads into the palace and the Second Courtyard. This crenelated gate has two large octagonal pointed towers. The date of construction of this gate is not clear, since the architecture of the towers is of Byzantine influence rather than Ottoman. It is speculated that the gate emulates the Gate of St. Barbara (Cannon Gate), which used to be the royal seaside entrance to the palace gardens from the shore of the Bosphorus. An inscription at the door dates this gate to at least 1542. The gate is richly decorated on both sides and in the upper part with religious inscriptions and monograms of sultans. Source from Wikipedia.
Here, we have to be checked by the Security before entering into the Second Courtyard. Our bags need to be scanned. Check out the intricate architecture on the ceilings. I always like to look up when I enter inside a structure.
I see a man in a costume. I guess he is dressed as someone from the Ottoman empire.
Do you see Murad? He is the one in the red t-shirt trying to talk to the group about the history of Topkapi Palace. It is a huge group, and unfortunately he does not have a microphone, so I cannot hear him clearly, unless I stand next to him.
The Tower of Justice (Adalet Kulesi) is located between the Imperial Council and the Harem. The tower is several stories high and the tallest structure in the palace, making it clearly visible from the Bosphorus as a landmark. The tower was probably originally constructed under Mehmed II and then renovated and enlarged by Suleiman I between 1527-1529. Sultan Mahmud II rebuilt the lantern of the tower in 1825 while retaining the Ottoman base.
The tower symbolizes the eternal vigilance of the sultan against injustice. Everyone from afar was supposed to be able to see the tower to feel assured about the sultan's presence. The tower was also used by the sultan for viewing pleasures. The old tower used to have grilled windows, enabling him to see without being seen, adding to the aura of seclusion. Source from Wikipedia.
The Gate of Felicity (Bâbüssaâde or Bab-üs Saadet) is the entrance into the Inner Court, also known as the Third Courtyard, marking the border to the Outer Court or Birûn. The Third Courtyard comprises the private and residential areas of the palace. The gate has a dome supported by lean marble pillars. It represents the presence of the Sultan in the palace. No one could pass this gate without the authority of the Sultan. Even the Grand Vizier was only granted authorisation on specified days and under specified conditions.
The gate was probably constructed under Mehmed II in the 15th century. It was redecorated in the rococo style in 1774 under Sultan Mustafa III and during the reign of Mahmud II. The gate is further decorated with Qur'anic verses above the entrance and tuğras. The ceiling is partly painted and gold-leafed, with a golden ball hanging from the middle. The sides with baroque decorative elements and miniature paintings of landscapes. The Sultan used this gate and the Divan Meydanı square only for special ceremonies. The funerals of the Sultan were also conducted in front of the gate. Source from Wikipedia.
Into the Third Courtyard we entered. The blooming flowers were so beautiful, and I saw a gardener at work. He was really focused in tending to the flowers. In the Third Courtyard, Murad allowed us to visit a few of the museums inside. We were given about 1 hour and then it will be time for lunch.
The Privy Chamber houses the Chamber of the Sacred Relics (Kutsal Emanetler Dairesi), which includes the Pavilion of the Holy Mantle. The chamber was constructed by Sinan under the reign of Sultan Murad III. It used to house offices of the Sultan.
It houses what are considered to be "the most sacred relics of the Muslim world": the cloak of Muhammad, two swords, a bow, one tooth, a hair of his beard, his battle sabres, an autographed letter and other relics which are known as the Sacred Trusts. Several other sacred objects are on display, such as the swords of the first four Caliphs, The Staff of Moses, the turban of Joseph and a carpet of the daughter of Mohammed. Source from Wikipedia.
There was no photography allowed inside here. Actually, all the museums in Topkapi Palace do not allow photography at all. I felt truly humbled to be so close to the relics of Prophet Muhammad - seeing his tooth and his beard hair. Many people were standing close to observe the relics. The place was dim inside to protect the relics, and I too, was standing close and long to see the relics. There was a person singing verses from the Quran and his voice was resonating throughout the Museum. Very calming voice he has.
And outside the museum, are books on the items in the museum. The book is selling for TL60.
Here, we got a view of the Asian side of Turkey separated by Turkey Straits.
How unfortunate that my eyes were closed at the moment a bird swooped behind me.
It is time for lunch now at the cafe inside the Palace. The interior looks casual and it is also recommended in Trip Advisor. Well, I remembered a bad experience of me eating in a Trip Advisor restaurant in Germany, and their sausages were so small that I never trust any restaurant with a Trip Advisor sticker anymore.
It was free seating for all of us. There was a glass of cherry juice (I think it's cherry), bread and salad. Appetiser is a pastry. I have no idea what is the interior of the puff. Seems empty to me and it was almost filling for me. Lunch was grilled lamb and chicken. Oh so yummylicious! Finally, dessert was pudding. I was really stuffed by the end of lunch.
If you tell me the pudding dessert looks like a brain, it does to me too. Haha. It is delicious, though.
That marks the end of our free city tour by Turkish Airlines - Hippodrome Constantinople, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace. I would say it is a day well spent exploring some of the city's main attractions! I am not sure when will I take Turkish Airlines again and do another free city tour but I don't think it will be anytime soon. It will definitely be better to spend a few weeks in Turkey.
And now, the main reason of my trip - to take the next flight to Tanzania! Mount Kilimanjaro, here I come! *the heart beats hard for 2 reason - taking a flight again and trekking this mountain for real*
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