Topkapi Palace Museum

The first Topkapi Palace in Turkey was the home to all Ottoman sultans until Abdulmecid I took throne, a period that lasted close to 400 years. When the palace design was completed, it was revealed that it would sit on Seraglio Point, a place where both Bosphorus and Marmara could be seen. Adding to the palace was a magnificent olive grove with the area being enclosed by massive doors, each pierced with several gates to include the Demir, Imperial, and Otluk gates. In between these large gates were a number of smaller, angled gates.

After the reign of Mehmed II, the palace began to grow until it was so large that it actually turned into a city, which consisted of an impressive complex of annexes, buildings, and even a smaller palace known as the Topkapi shore palace. This massive palace stood near the cannon gate called Topkapi, one of Istanbul’s ancient walls. Sadly, the shore palace burned down in 1863. Even so, the primary portal called Bab-I Humayun was perfect to become the mosque of Avasofya. With this, four new courts were created, each surrounded by different structures.

Keep in mind that when Sultan Mehmed came to the area, he was met with overwhelming poverty and a population of just 40,000 people, all living in isolated areas of the city mingled in, among cultivated fields. Although the area at that time was nothing glorious, Mehmed set his sight on the hill, which is where the Topkapi Palace was built. This time was one of grandiose proportions, which became synonymous with the Ottoman culture and history. The interesting thing about this palace is that not only was it home to royalty, it was so powerful that it became an actual institution where major planning took place, remaining that way from the 15th century through the middle of the 19th century.

The one thing that Europeans found so interesting is that the Topkapi Palace was like none other in Europe. With different lines and irregular proportions, it was fundamentally different from any palace, whether European, Oriental, or Islamic. However, according to the Ottoman, this palace was “The Palace of Felicity”. The palace was built in several phases starting with Edirne Yeni Sarayi. With this, the residential and administrative units evolved, followed by Istanbul Eski Sarayi, which was supposed to be to the Ottoman residence and the “Women’s Palace” to help with development and spatial transformation, becoming the new palace’s harem.

Today, the Topkapi Palace serves as a number of functions, primarily as a museum with just a small portion of the original environment and domain being appreciated. With the fire and years of demolition through new building of many original structures, the palace remains a magnificent place that even with so many changes has remained remarkably intact. What you will find is the formation of self-contained chambers, which have evolved around smaller courtyards.

Unlike in earlier years, these courtyards are not isolated but connected and aligned with the main courtyards, which creates an interesting, self-contained microcosm that is identical to the state it housed. The final building to be added was never completed since Topkapi was abandoned for a new palace on the Bosphorus. Unfortunately, this lead to the Topkapi being in a state of disrepair and while it is still incredibly large, just a few sections today are open to the public.


Last Updated: 10/19/2006 3:14:00 PM

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