Sunday, December 6, 2009

Istanbul - Topkapi Palace

Finally we have gotten some of our pictures from Turkey processed and ready for public consumption!

Topkapi Palace was our first stop in Istanbul.  It was built by Mehmet the Conquerer in 1478 and was the seat of the Ottoman Empire for 400 years.

It is a beautiful palace and a not to be missed attraction in Istanbul.

There are three parts to the palace:  the main palace, the Treasury which contains all the jewels and coins and other expensive items, and the Harem.  The Harem was where the concubines lived.  They were supervised by the Sultan's mother.

The palace is built on one of the seven hills of Istanbul, overlooking the Bosphorus and provides a gorgeous view.

Entry to the Palace and Treasury is included on one ticket for 20 Turkish Lira.  The Harem is an additional ticket and is 15 Lira.  Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays.































































4 comments:

weezermonkey said...

So amazing.

Insomniac said...

Beautiful - love that mosaic work.

Unknown said...

Dear HaveShoes...

My wife and I have really enjoyed your posts on Istanbul. We will be visiting there in March and your pictures and comments have really gotten us excited about the city. Thanks!

Unknown said...

thank you so much for your wonderful Istanbul travelogue and beautiful photos. I am flying from Venice to Istanbul for first time in early Aprl for 4 days prior to a two week tour of Turkey. I am now even more excited. Thank you for sharing.