Topkapı Palace which is at the top of the list of places to be seen in Istanbul, was lunched in1478 by Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror who took the city in 1453.
After the conquest of Istanbul by Mehmed the Conqueror at 1453, construction of the Topkapi Palace was started at the year 1460 and completed at 1478 . Palace was built upon a 700.000 squaremeters area on an Eastern Roman Acropolis located at the Istanbul Peninsula between Sea of Marmara, Bosphorus and the Golden Horn.
About 30 sultans ruled from the Topkapı Palace for nearly four centuries during the Ottoman Empire’s 600-year reign, beginning with Mehmed II. The palace grew gradually by new buildings added by various sultans. It served as the seat of imperial rule and the official residence of Ottoman sultans for 380 years until Sultan Abdulmecit relocated the centre of adminstration to the newly built Dolmabahce Palace.
Following the proclamation of the republic, Topkapi Palace was placed under the administration of the Museum of Ancient Buildings upon the instructions of Ataturk in 1924. Through this instruction it was openede to public visit. Through continuous restoration more pavilions have been opened to public acces in the museum.With the Holy Islamic Relics displayed in a renovated pavilion, with its unmatched jewellery, weaponry, books, manuscript and garment collections it is the most frequently visited museum of Istanbul.
How to get Topkapi Palace
Here is the map you can see how to get to Suleymeniye Mosque it is behind the Hagia Sophia and next to Gulhane Garden.
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