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Topkapi Palace, Imperial
residence of Ottoman Sultans, the maze
of buildings that was the focal point of
the Ottoman Empire between the 15th and
19th centruies. In these opulent
surroundings the sultans and their court
lived and governed. A magnificent wooded
garden fills the outer, or first, court.
In the second court, on the right,
shaded by cyprees and plane trees,stand
the palace kitchens, which now serve as
galleries exhibiting the imperial
collections of crystal, silver and
Chinese porcelain. Today the third court
holds the Hall of Audience, the Library
of Ahmet III, an exhibition of imperial
costumes worn by the sultans and their
families, the famous jewels of the
treasury and a priceless collection of
miniatures from medieval manuscripts. In
the center of this innermost sanctuary,
the Prophet Muhammet (S.A.V) brought to
Istanbul when the Ottomans assumed the
caliphaten of Islam.
Suleymaniye Mosque, masterpiece
of Sinan, built between 1550 and 1557,
it is one of the best Works of the
Ottoman Empire, built in the name of
Suleyman The Magnificent during the 16th
century, considered as the best amongst
the imperial mosques.. |
