Wonders from Topkapi Palace

I made a return visit to Istanbul in order to speak at conference last Friday and transit to meetings later in the week in Central Asia. Over the weekend I had some free time to explore Topkapi Palace and a few of the other museums that I missed last month. Topkapi Palace is amazing and I highly recommend it if visiting Istanbul.

Photo by Patrick Jones. View of the Bosporus from Topkapi Palace.

Photo by Patrick Jones. 16 May 2015.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Rose Garden of the Sultans.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Seal of the Ottoman Empire.

The calligraphy in the image above is called a tughra, and it represents the signature of the Ottoman sultans. The tughra appears above the entrances of palaces in Istanbul.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Room of the Prince, in the Harem.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Stained glass windows.

Photo by Patrick Jones. View of the Bosporus, 16 May 2015.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Imperial Room, Harem.

There is a separate fee to visit the Harem (15 TL), this is the private quarters of the Sultans and family. The tile work throughout this section is stunning. I recommend arriving early to avoid the lines.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Tiles in the Harem.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Tile work at Topkapi Palace.

Photo by Patrick Jones. Tiles at the Palace.

Photo by Patrick Jones. 16 May 2015.