Turkey Guide On Line
Turkey Guide On Line
|
|
For Istanbul and its museums and monuments istanbulexpert, For Cappadocia and its fantastic landscapes visit cappadociaguideonline For Turkish Carpets and kilims turkishcarpetsguide. For Bodrum ancient Halicarnassus guidebodrum. and bodrumrehberi This site sponsored by inpopanda and incicuhadar
|
The Harem
The court which is known as the courtyard of Valide sultan is surrounded 40 rooms belonging to her. Second court used by the Kadin Efendi, legitimate wives of the Sultan, has four rooms with similar furniture and a bath for their use. The rooms of Valide Sultan After the courtyard of Kadin Efendi, visitors penetrate three rooms used by the Valide Sultan, the mother of the Sultan who was usually the most powerful person after the Sultan. Her sitting room has three mannequins representing her and two of the legitimate wives. In the sitting room, visitors enjoy the furniture of the 17th century, fine Turkish tiles and also a magnificent Star Ushak Rug covering the floor. This room gives access to side rooms: the sleeping and praying rooms of queen mother. Turkish Baths These double baths which were built by architect Sinan were for the use of the Sultan and his mother. Visitors to Harem, they have chance to visit the Sultan's bath which has cold, medium heated and hot rooms. The metal grille separating the hottest part into two sections shows the fear of the sultans from the attempts of murders.
Built by architect Sinan the Great, the throne room is the greatest and most impressive room of the Harem. this was where the Sultan had entertaining, listened to music and received his family members during the religious festivals of the Muslim faith. This extraordinary room which is beautifully furnished with a throne for the Sultan, low seats for the Royal ladies and seats on the balcony for the female musicians. Throne room, which was restored after the fire of 1666, had Delf tiles which replaced the Turkish tiles of the 16th century. Visitors enjoy Venetian Mirrors, British Grandfather Clocks and Chinese Vases in this room.
This room very elaborate fountain was built by architect Sinan during the reign of Murad III who got the greatest umber of Harem women and children. Magnificently decorated with 16 century Iznik tiles, Murad's room has fine tiles around the fireplace. Room of Ahmet I This small room was built during the time of Ahmet I who was responsible for the construction of famous Blue mosque. Ahmet who became Sultan at age of 14, he used this room as a study room and wrote hi poems here.
A tiny room which is magnificently decorated with frescoes depicting flowers and fruits was built for Ahmet III, famous Sultan of Tulip Age.
Rooms of Crown Prince
|
|
|
|
This amazing complex, which was practically closed to outer world, consisted
of 400 rooms. It was the home of Ottoman Sultans and Ottoman Royal Ladies, who
lived there with their servants and black and white Eunuchs during the Ottoman
centuries. The Harem was not part of the original palace designed by Mehmet the Conqueror
who kept his Royal ladies in the old palace, located by the present
day Suleymaniye mosque. This tradition was followed by hi successors. But the
tradition has it that it was Suleyman the Magnificent who brought his Ukranian
wife, Roxalane to the Topkapi Palace. First 
permanent structures were built
during the reign of Murad III, the son of Selim. This secret world is entered by
the Gate of Carriages where leading figures of the Harem got carriages to go the
Grand Bazaar or to pay a visit to their relatives. Then, visitors come to
magnificent room, richly decorated by the Iznik tiles and attractive inscription
which gives the 75 titles of Mohammed. A tiny mosque which was used by the
guards is situated on the left side. Then comes the courtyard of the eunuchs who
were brought from Africa an India and had been castrated even before they got to
Ottoman soil. Their dormitory which had three floors is presently closed to
public because of the restoration work. Before the real entry of Harem section,
the rooms used for the education of the Crown Prince are situated. This was
where the young prince got the best tutors and education available in the empire
and stayed there up to a certain age, before they were appointed to various
cities of the Empire to learn the state affairs.
Then visitors come to a very impressive gate which gives an access to rooms
inhabited by mother of the Sultan, his wives, favorites and concubines. This
gate is beautifully decorated with an inscription and fine Ottoman tiles. After
the last guarding place for the eunuchs, visitors come to food corridor which
was used for the distribution of the food bought form the Imperial Kitchens.
This hall gives access to courtyards, first one belonging to Mother Sultana and
the second belonging to legitimate wives of the Sultan.
The Throne Room
The Room of Murad III
Fruit Room of Ahmed III
These twin rooms with extraordinary beauty were inhabited by the Crown Prince
who could stay in the Harem up to a creation Age. In the both rooms, we see low
seats situated by the windows, small fountains put the windows. The dome in the
first room which was discovered during the restorations of 1970s is
extraordinary. It is linen painted glued to the wood. Visitor admire the tiles
and stain glass windows of the second room. They both depict the flowers coming
out of a vase and cypress tree.