History of Topkapi Palace

The Topkapi Saray Palace is located in Istanbul, Turkey. It is the largest palace in Istanbul's Old City, and it served as a major center of the Ottoman Empire and a center for the establishment of the Sultans of the Ottoman Empire for four decades, from 1465 to 1856, before Dolmabahce Palace took its place.

The palace had four main courtyards and a number of structures, including apartments, kitchens, mosques, a hospital, and other structures. Nearly 4,000 people lived in the state at its height. The Ottoman Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror ordered the building of Topkapi Palace in 1459 AD, and it was completed in 1478 AD. The Topkapi Palace covers an area of around 400,000 square meters, and it is considered one of the world's largest and oldest palaces.

It was originally known as "Yeni Saray," which meant "new palace," to differentiate it from the previous residence. In the nineteenth century, the palace was renamed "Topkapi. The building extends over the centuries, including after the earthquake of 1509 and the fire of 1665 AD. 

Due to the Ottomans' interest in the art of cooking, the Topkapi Palace also had a huge kitchen with around 10,000 and more porcelain and cooking utensils, including the "Longquan pot," which was rumored to be necessary for the palaces of the sultans and princes.

Construction of Topkapi Palace

Topkapi Palace in Istanbul is characterized by the appearance of its fountain, which immediately draws everyone's attention. The fountain is known as the Sultan Ahmed III Fountain because it was constructed during his rule, and it is situated outside the "Palace Entrance." The fountain was built in 1728 AD, and this year was known as the "Tulip Period" during Sultan Ahmed III's reign.

The palace is surrounded by high and broad walls known as the "Sultana Wall," which extends from the Sabbat "Gilar Palace" to "another entrance" and stretches from Hagia Sophia to the Gulhane district in Istanbul, as well as from and to the Sirkeci neighborhood. The palace is surrounded by high and wide walls known as the "Sultana Wall," which extends from the Sabbat "Gilar Palace" to "another street." The portion overlooking the bay with several compartments was destroyed due to the passing of a railway line from the aforementioned location, and there are 28 towers on these walls.

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Topkapi Palace’s Gates

According to tradition, the palace once had thirteen gates, but only a few remain today, one of which is the "babı hümayun, the Gate of Peace." 

The first square of the palace is situated at the inner end of the door, and it was subjected to a great fire in the nineteenth century, which resulted in great damages in the palace. The square includes the prosecutor booth, which used to collect people's grievances, and to the right of it are the offices of the treasury staff, and behind the wall is the palace bakery. The Church of Ayah Erin is to the right of the square, and the Empire Square is to the left of the square.

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