Topkapi Palace from "summary" of Constantinople by Philip Mansel
The Topkapi Palace stands on the site of the first Ottoman palace in Istanbul. Over the centuries, it has been much altered and expanded, making it a maze of rooms, courtyards, and gardens. The palace was the center of the Ottoman Empire for almost four centuries and was home to generations of sultans and their families. The Topkapi Palace was not just a residence; it was also the administrative and ceremonial heart of the empire. It housed government offices, the treasury, and the imperial harem. The palace complex was designed to impress visitors and to showcase the wealth and power of the sultan. One of the most striking features of the Topkapi Palace is its architecture, which combines elements of Byzantine, Persian, and Islamic design. The buildings are decorated with intricate ti...
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