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Wikipedia: The Topkapı Palace or in Ottoman Turkish: طوپقپو سرايى, usually spelled "Topkapi" in English) is a palace in Istanbul, Turkey, which was the official and primary residence in the city of the Ottoman Sultans for 400 years of their 600-year reign, from 1465 to 1856. The palace was a setting for state occasions and royal entertainments and is a major tourist attraction today, containing the most holy relics of the Muslim world such as the prophet Muhammed's cloak and sword. Topkapı Palace is among those monuments belonging to the "Historic Areas of Istanbul", which became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985, and is described in Criterion iv as "the best example[s] of ensembles of palaces [... ] of the Ottoman period.
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![Upper terrace with fountain, İftar bower and Baghdad Kiosk [Upper terrace with fountain, İftar bower and Baghdad Kiosk]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/s/Istanbul_Topkapi048_s.jpg)
![Byzantine remains in the Second Courtyard. [Byzantine remains in the Second Courtyard.]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/s/Second_Court_Topkapi_2007_76_s.jpg)
![Arz Odası, the Audience Chamber [Arz Odası, the Audience Chamber]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/s/Istanbul_Topkapi064_s.jpg)
![Main entrance to the Audience Chamber, with the small fountain of Suleiman I to the right, and the large gifts... [Main entrance to the Audience Chamber, with the small fountain of Suleiman I to the right, and the large gifts...]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/s/Istanbul_Topkapi037_s.jpg)
![Scale model of Seraglio Point with the Topkapı Palace complex [Scale model of Seraglio Point with the Topkapı Palace complex]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/s/Model_Topkapi_Istanbul_283_29_s.jpg)
![Scale model of the inner part of the palace (2nd-4th courtyards) [Scale model of the inner part of the palace (2nd-4th courtyards)]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/s/Model_Topkapi_Istanbul_284_29_s.jpg)
![Second Courtyard, with the kitchens to the right [Second Courtyard, with the kitchens to the right]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/s/Topkapi_Palace_Second_Courtyard_March_2008pano_s.jpg)
![Sultan Selim III holding an audience in front of the Gate of Felicity in the Second Courtyard [Sultan Selim III holding an audience in front of the Gate of Felicity in the Second Courtyard]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/s/Konstantin_Kapidagli_001_s.jpg)
![The Imperial Mint (Darphane-i Âmire) [The Imperial Mint (Darphane-i Âmire)]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/s/Mint_Topkapi_Istanbul_2007_s.jpg)
![The Imperial Gate (Bâb-ı Hümâyûn) [The Imperial Gate (Bâb-ı Hümâyûn)]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/s/Imperial_Gate_Topkapi_Istanbul_2007_002_s.jpg)
![Church of Hagia Eirene in the First Courtyard [Church of Hagia Eirene in the First Courtyard]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/s/Hagia_Eirene_Constantinople_July_2007_001_s.jpg)
![The Third Courtyard, depiction from the Hünername in 1584 [The Third Courtyard, depiction from the Hünername in 1584]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/s/Hunername_231b_232_s.jpg)
![The Gate of Felicity (Bâbüssaâde) [The Gate of Felicity (Bâbüssaâde)]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/s/Istanbul_Topkapi036_s.jpg)
![Interior Dome of Harem [Interior Dome of Harem]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/s/Topkapi_Palace_Harem_Dome_s.jpg)
![Library interior [Library interior]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/s/Ahmed_III_library_dome_Topkapi_March_s.jpg)
![Some of the imperial carriages [Some of the imperial carriages]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/s/Istanbul_Topkapi008_s.jpg)
![The Grand Vezier in an audience, painting from the series by Jean [The Grand Vezier in an audience, painting from the series by Jean]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/s/Jean_Baptiste_van_Mour_004_s.jpg)
![Topkapi Palace from Galata Bridge [Topkapi Palace from Galata Bridge]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/s/Topkapi_Palace_from_Galata_Bridge_s.jpg)
![Reverse of the 50 lira banknote (1970s) [Reverse of the 50 lira banknote (1970s)]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/s/50_Old_TL_reverse_s.jpg)
![Blue-and-white Chinese porcelain-ware from the Topkapı collection [Blue-and-white Chinese porcelain-ware from the Topkapı collection]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/s/Palace_kitchens_Topkapi_2007_012_cropped_s.jpg)
![Outside view of the Twin Kiosk [Outside view of the Twin Kiosk]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/s/Veliahd_Dairesi_Topkapi_Istanbul_2007_panorama_s.jpg)
![Stained-glass windows decorate the interior [Stained-glass windows decorate the interior]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/s/Topkap_C4_B1_Palace_Twin_Kiosok_2007_s.jpg)
![The Fruit Room with painted walls [The Fruit Room with painted walls]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/s/Fruit_Room_Topkapi_March_2008_s.jpg)
![Imperial Hall with the throne of the sultan [Imperial Hall with the throne of the sultan]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/s/Imperial_Sofa_Topkapi_March_2008pano2_s.jpg)
![The Queen Mother and her attendants in her apartments [The Queen Mother and her attendants in her apartments]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/s/Apartments_Valide_Sultan_Topkapi_March_2008pano_s.jpg)
![The Courtyard of the Favourites [The Courtyard of the Favourites]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/s/Favourites_courtyard_Topkapi_March_2008_s.jpg)
![Panoramic view of the Marmara Sea from the palace [Panoramic view of the Marmara Sea from the palace]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/s/Bosphorus_view_Topkapi_Istanbul_2007_s.jpg)
![Grand Kiosk [Grand Kiosk]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/s/Mecidiye_Kosku_Topkapi_Istanbul_2007_Pano_s.jpg)
![Terrace Kiosk [Terrace Kiosk]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/s/Terrace_Kiosk_Topkapi_March_2008_2_s.jpg)
![Tower of the Head Tutor / Chamber of the Chief Physician [Tower of the Head Tutor / Chamber of the Chief Physician]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/s/Chief_Physician_Tower_Topkapi_March_2008_3_s.jpg)
![Courtyard of the Apartments of the Queen Mother (Valide Sultan Dairesi) [Courtyard of the Apartments of the Queen Mother (Valide Sultan Dairesi)]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/s/Valide_Sultan_apartments_Topkapi_2007_s.jpg)
![Stone marker for the Holy Banner [Stone marker for the Holy Banner]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/s/Stone_marker_Gate_Felicity_Topkapi_March_2008_s.jpg)
![The Conqueror's Pavillon (Fatih Köşkü) houses the Imperial Treasury [The Conqueror's Pavillon (Fatih Köşkü) houses the Imperial Treasury]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/s/Conqueror_Pavillon_March_2008pano_s.jpg)
![The Tower of Justice next to the Imperial Council hall [The Tower of Justice next to the Imperial Council hall]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/s/Courtyard_Topkapi_Palace_s.jpg)
![Hallway of the Conqueror's Pavillon [Hallway of the Conqueror's Pavillon]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/s/Imperial_Treasury_Topkapi_s.jpg)
![İznik tiles decorate the interior [İznik tiles decorate the interior]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/s/Enderun_library_Topkapi_42_s.jpg)
![Enderûn Library, or Library of Sultan Ahmed III [Enderûn Library, or Library of Sultan Ahmed III]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/s/Enderun_library_Topkapi_40_s.jpg)
![Scene from the Surname-ı Vehbi, kept in the palace [Scene from the Surname-ı Vehbi, kept in the palace]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/s/Surname_51b_s.jpg)
![The Golden Road [The Golden Road]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/s/Topkapi_Golden_Road_Harem_Exit_2_s.jpg)
![Photograph of the last Sultan Mehmed VI Vahidettin [Photograph of the last Sultan Mehmed VI Vahidettin]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/s/VI_Mehmet_Vahidettin_s.jpg)
![The Gate of Salutation , entrance to the Second courtyard of Topkapı Palace [The Gate of Salutation , entrance to the Second courtyard of Topkapı Palace]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/s/Gate_of_Salutation_Topkapi_Istanbul_2007_Pano_s.jpg)
![Topkapi Palace window [Topkapi Palace window]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/s/Topkap_C4_B1_Palace_Window_View_s.jpg)
![Twin Kiosk windows [Twin Kiosk windows]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/s/Window_Apartments_of_the_Crown_Prince_s.jpg)
![Entrance door to the chamber of Sultan Abdül Hamid I. [Entrance door to the chamber of Sultan Abdül Hamid I.]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/s/Abdulhamid_Odasi_kapi_Topkapi_March_2008_28Panoramic_29_s.jpg)
![Fourth courtyard [Fourth courtyard]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/s/Fourth_courtyard_Topkapi_Palace_P7060044_s.jpg)
![Topkapi Palace crescent [Topkapi Palace crescent]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/s/Topkapi_Palace_Crescent_s.jpg)
![Topkapi Palace garden [Topkapi Palace garden]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/s/Topkap_C4_B1_Palace_Garden_s.jpg)
![Sultan Mehmed II ordered the initial construction around the 1460s [Sultan Mehmed II ordered the initial construction around the 1460s]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/s/Sarayi_Album_10a_s.jpg)
![The palace kitchens with the tall chimneys [The palace kitchens with the tall chimneys]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/s/Palace_kitchens_Topkapi_2007_s.jpg)
![Baths of the Sultan with gilded grill [Baths of the Sultan with gilded grill]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/s/Hunkar_ve_Valide_Hamamlari_Harem_Topkapi_2007_s.jpg)
![Interior of the Circumcision Room [Interior of the Circumcision Room]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/s/Circumcision_room_interior_Topkapi_March_2008pano_s.jpg)
![One of the hollow trees, in the Third Court [One of the hollow trees, in the Third Court]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/s/Tree_Topkapi_01_s.jpg)
![Terrace Mosque [Terrace Mosque]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/s/Sofa_Camii_Topkapi_Istanbul_2007_s.jpg)
![The Courtyard of the Eunuchs [The Courtyard of the Eunuchs]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/s/Eunuch_courtyard_Harem_Topkapi_Istanbul_2007_85_s.jpg)
![The former Imperial Treasury houses the armoury collection today [The former Imperial Treasury houses the armoury collection today]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/s/Armory_Second_Court_Topkapi_Istanbul_2007_panorama_s.jpg)
![Porch outside the Imperial Divan [Porch outside the Imperial Divan]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/s/Imperial_Council_Hall_Topkapi_2007_s.jpg)
![View into the Kubbealtı, with the Golden Window visible on the right [View into the Kubbealtı, with the Golden Window visible on the right]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/s/Imperial_Council_Hall_Topkapi_2007a_s.jpg)
![Door to the Imperial Treasury (Hazine-i Âmire) [Door to the Imperial Treasury (Hazine-i Âmire)]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/s/Imperial_Treasury_Topkapi_58_s.jpg)
![The Gate of Carts entrance [The Gate of Carts entrance]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/s/Harem_entrance_Topkapi_Istanbul_2007_s.jpg)
![Hall of the Ablution Fountain [Hall of the Ablution Fountain]](http://images.ookaboo.com/photo/s/Sadirvanli_Sofa_Harem_Topkapi_Istanbul_2007_Pano1_s.jpg)