The Topkapi Palace was built by Mehmed II from 1460 to 1478. It was expanded and enlarged many times over the years. That is why there was a mix of Ottoman, Rococo and Viennese architecture. We first had a lunch of traditional Turkish dishes and of course some hot hot Turkish tea. Then we walked over to the Topkapi Palace which was just behind the Hagia Sophia. The palace had three gates and four courtyards. Each gate had a name and theme as did the courtyards. The first gate was the Imperial Gate and was used from the first prayer to the evening prayer. This gate led to the public courtyard. In this courtyard there was a hospital and a police station and the place where the public could see the Sultan as he passed by during his processions. There was a church in this courtyard that was relegated to a storage area by the Ottoman administrators. The second gate was the Gate of Salutations which led to the Parliamentary Courtyard. Here there were a series of paths that lead to different locations. Some led to the kitchen, some led to the harem and others led to the stables. This was a man's world so no women were allowed in this courtyard. We took the path to the Council House. It had two rooms, one for the Sultan and his staff and one for the visitors who were waiting for their audience. Next to this was the Ink Well Room where the scribes used to sit and take notes and document all the things of the Empire. There was a collection of watches and clocks displayed in this building. This leg of the tour ended in the Armory where various weapons and pieces of armor were displayed.
the Pudding Shop is actually quite a Istanbul fixture and it has seen it's share of celebrity's. Add TeamLeip to that long list
Yes, please!
Point and get what you want
Lots of signs
Belgin, our guide, made sure that our orders were correct
International visitors leave monay
Some have notes on them
It was fun to see all of them
One of the few remaining 19th century upper crust mansions
The corner gate in the walls
Not for us to enter
This is the 1st gate, the Imperial Gate
Vary fancy
Looking over tot he Asia side of the Bosporus
One tall tower
Big waves on this windy day
This old church did not make the cut when churches were being converted to mosques
It made a fine storage shed nonetheless
Gates along the walls
Not for everyday use
Approaching the 2nd Gate
What a beautiful day
These rock carvings look like a exhaust turbine on its side
The Salutation Gate
Hopefully these are not the list of the rules
If these are the rules we did not read them
Big doors
The different paths in the second Courtyard, these lead to the third gate
These lead to the kitchen
Great cypress trees
This is the Tower of Justice. The women of the Royal family could climb up here and it was tall enough that they could watch the official processions that went on in the next courtyard over. Of course they could not be in that courtyard either.
The Council hall was built in 1478
At the top are some recent renovations
The detail is over the top
This is fancy indeed!
Today's specials are listed
Inside the audience room, the Sultan had a special window that he could eavesdrop on his councilors
The domes are all incredible
The wooden bar is where a curtail could be pulled over to separate the Sultan from his visitors
No detail was spared
Evry square inch a thing of beauty is just waiting to be discovered
Here is where the Sultan could sit and soak his tired feet
The top pf the "curtain rod"
We pass through to the visitor's side
Which was even more impressive
Tiny windows to the outside
We spent ample time just looking up
Wowzers, not a shabby waiting area
The clocks were over the top
Bejeweled and gilded
This one was a clock
It was also a planetarium or Orrery
Seven feet tall and full of time
Simple enough
But look at all the parts
A clock so timey it needs reading glasses to see the time. Plus a little gun?
Lyre clock
Off to see the wepons
A bent sword is easier to wield and therefore more dangerous
The first prototype of the Click-Clacks
So pretty
Probably formal sheilds not for everyday battle use
Very pretty indeed
Ziggidy Zag
Some of the first guns
With early gun sights
A gun powder fish
Some beautiful metalwork
A Japanese sword too?
Armor for your horse
More domes but no decorations on them
Chain mail and helmet
I would wear one of these
Ax me a question
Ouch!
The Arabic script is really beautiful
Looking back at the Armory we were told that the soldiers got paid here every full moon. They were given rock candy with their wages and if they were happy with the amount they would eat the candy. If they were npt happy the Sultan wanted to know about it as early as possible
