The Topkapi Palace is a large palace in Istanbul, Turkey, that was the primary residence of the Ottoman Sultans for approximately 400 years (1465-1856).
As well as a royal residence, the palace was a setting for state occasions and royal entertainments. It is now a major tourist attraction and contains important holy relics of the Muslim world, including Profit Muhammed's cloak and sword.it is announced as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985, and is described under UNESCO's criterion iv as "the best example of palaces of the Ottoman period."
The palace complex consists of four main courtyards and many smaller buildings. At its peak, the palace was home to as many as 4,000 people, and covered a large area with a long shoreline. It contained mosques, a hospital, bakeries, and a mint. Construction began in 1459, ordered by Sultan Mehmed II, the conqueror of Byzantine Constantinople.
It was originally called the New Palace (Yeni Sarayı) to distinguish it from the previous residence. It received the name "Topkapı" (Cannon Gate) in the 19th century, after a (now lost) gate and shore pavilion. The complex was expanded over the centuries, with major renovations after the 1509 earthquake and the 1665 fire.
Entrance(Main Entrance): 25 TL (Turkish Lira) / apx. 14 $ / apx. 11 EURO / apx. 93 EGP
Entrance(Hareem Section): 15 TL (Turkish Lira) / apx. 9 $ / apx. 6.5 EURO / apx. 56 EGP
Working hours: daily from 09:00 to 17:00 except Tuesday
Coordinates: 41° 0'42.40"N 28°58'59.17"E
Directions:
From Taksim: Take the Funicular (line: F1) from Taksim station to Kabataş station. (F1: Yellow label)
then Take the Tramvay (line: T1) from Kabataş station to Gülhane station. (T1: Grey label)
From Blue Mosque: Walk through Sultanahmet square, Topkapi Palace is just behind Hagia Sophia.
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