Müze : TOPKAPI SARAYI MÜZESİ
Yer : Sultanahmet, Fatih / İSTANBUL
Telefon : 0212 512 0480
Web : http://topkapisarayi.gov.tr/tr
Ziyaret Gün ve Saati : Salı günü hariç 09.00 – 19.00
(Yaz saati uygulaması boyunca)
Açıklama : Topkapı Sarayı Fatih Sultan Mehmed tarafından 1460 – 1478 tarihleri arasında yaptırılmıştır.
Saray, 19. Yüzyıla kadar Osmanlı padişahların resmî ikametgâhı olmaya devam etmiştir.
Ücret :
Location
Topkapi Palace Museum complex located on the Sarayburnu (Seraglio Point), which overlooks both the Marmara Sea and the Bosphorus Straight at historical peninsula (Fatih District) of Istanbul.
Museums of Istanbul: Topkapı Palace
A magnificent structure that has witnessed the history of Istanbul, Topkapı Palace was home to Ottoman Sultans who ruled the world for centuries. Today, it serves as a museum that cherishes the memories of those times.
After the conquest of Istanbul by Sultan Mehmed, the Conqueror, in 1453 a new governmental center was needed in Istanbul which became the new capital of the Ottoman Empire. For that purpose, the construction of Topkapı Palace was started in 1460, and the palace was used as residence for sultans from Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror, to Sultan Abdulmecid the thirty first sultan, and also as a center of administration, education and art for four centuries.
Serving as a museum since April 3, 1924, the Palace is also renowned as the first museum of the Republic.
Today Topkapı Palace Museum is one of the largest palace museums of the world with 300,000 archive documents, spectacular collections consisting of Ottoman arms and instruments, an invaluable treasure like the Spoonmaker’s Diamond and its sacred relics. Sections of Topkapı Palace consist of 4 courtyards and 1 harem. The Palace has been divided into 2 main sections as Birun, its service section, and Enderun, which covers inner organizational structures.
Courtyard 1: (Alay Meydanı / Parade Court): The Parade Court that witnessed the parades of the Sultan covers Hagia Irene, a church from the Eastern Roman Empire, the entrance gate Babüsselam, the Gate of Salutation, a ceremonial entrance gate designed in a blend of Ottoman and Western architecture, and another ceremonial gate, Bab-ı Hümayun, the Imperial Gate which allows passage to Courtyard I. The first Courtyard is known to be the only section of the Palace that was open to public.
Courtyard 2: (Divan Meydanı / Council Square): It is the gate that opens to the administrative buildings of the State. It is also known as the Middle Gate. The Council Square, built as the second courtyard of the Palace, was used as a ceremonial grounds for state governance and representation.
Courtyard 3 (Enderun Courtyard): It covers the inner palace allocated to the Sultan. Aside from the sections allocated to the Sultan, it covers dormitories and structures belonging to the Palace School established during the reign of Sultan Murad II.
Courtyard 4 (Kiosks Garden/: Consisting of kiosks of sultans and terraces, Tulip garden and Sofa-i Hümayun, which is another terrace, Courtyard 4 covers also kiosks build toward the Golden Horn in mid 17th century.
Topkapı palace is established on an area of 700,000 square meters on the Eastern Roman Acropolis situated at the end of the Historical Peninsula between Marmara Sea, the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn. The structure, which was converted into a museum after the foundation of the Republic, is located in the Cankurtaran Quarter of Fatih district.
Attracting intensive interest from local and foreign tourists, Topkapı Palace was visited by nearly 3 million tourists in 2018. Topkapı Palace is open to visitors every day except Tuesday. During the winter season (October 2 – April 1), it can be visited from 9:00 to 16:45, provided that latest entry is at 16:00, and in the summer season (April 1 – October 2) it can be visited from 09:00 to 18:45, provided that latest entry is at 18:00.
Topkapı Palace can be accessed by a short walk when you get off the T1 Kabatas-Bagcilar tram at Gülhane or Sultanahmet stop.
Public transportation system T1 (Tram 1) is the most convenient way to get Sultanahmet area, which only takes 5 minutes walk from Sultanahmet and Gulhane tram station to Topkapi Palace. The distance from Gulhane tram station to museum only 600 meters whereas from Sultanahmet tram station is 700 meters which this direction leads to imperial gate and following first courtyard of Topkapi Palace.
The Imperial gate (Bab-ı Hümayun) which is first exterior gate and security scanners and military guard area opens to first courtyard.
First courtyard (Avlu) contains several monuments and historical places. First structure on the left is Konyali 1897 Lokantasi (Restaurant), which offers royal Ottoman cuisine with panoramic views of the Marmara sea and a unique Ottoman palace sherbet. Second on the row is Hagia Irene Museum known also as Saint Irene, one of the few churches that has not been converted into a mosque in the Ottoman area.
Last building is Darphane (Darphane-i Âmire), former imperial mint and was the place of production of all the gold and silver Ottoman coins.
Facilities & Services & Tips
Disabled access is possible but wheelchairs are not available and cobblestone-covered hills might cause problems for handicapped travelers.
There is no parking facility in the palace place.
Photography is not allowed inside the museum halls.
Tickets for children below the age of 6 are free.
Entrance is FREE of charge for disabled visitors and one companion who is a first degree relative.
Audio guides or personal guides are recommended to bring out sophisticated details of the palace.
Imperial gate security check queues can be long, You can enter the first courtyard from Archaelogy Museum just up steep way via Gülhane Park.
Best things to discover in Topkapi Palace
Topkapi Palace Museum have large collections of porcelain, robes, weapons, Ottoman miniatures, Islamic calligraphic manuscripts as well as other Ottoman treasures and jewellery. Visit the Palace Treasury that holds a fascinating collection of the world’s most famous and spectacular jewels including the famous Topkapi Dagger. This dagger was the subject of the famous film Topkapi.
