Main entrance gate to the palace...
Located right on the Bosporous...
This entrance hall in the Harem (where the Sultan's 400 wives and family lived!) was guarded by Eunuchs! 17th century tiles on the walls...
Harem main entrance in the Courtyard of the Eunuchs which separates where the family of the sultan resided from the Eunuchs...
Apartments of the Queen Mother....
Double baths of the Sultan and the Queen Mother with gilded iron grill to protect them from murder attempts while bathing.
The Imperial Hall with the throne of the sultan, believed to have been built in the late 16th century. The hall served as the official reception hall of the sultan as well as for the entertainment of the Harem. The room has an 18th century blue and white tile belt surrounding the walls bearing calligraphic inscriptions, classical 16th century paintings, and Venetian glass mirrors. A secret door behind a mirror allowed the sultan a safe passage.
The Courtyard of the Favourites, expanded in the 18th century, forms the last section of the Harem. Not sure, but I think this was where the Sultan's favorite wives lived!
We toured the Imperial Treasury, which held an 86 carat diamond, and other jewelry made of gold and other precious materials like emeralds, etc...but no cameras were allowed inside. Outside was this fabulous lookout area.
Guard...
Leaving the Palace, there were lots of little vendors on the street...
Like this ice cream man...
0 comments:
Post a Comment