The Topkapi Palace is a large museum located in the Fatih district of Istanbul and has a history that dates back to the 15th century. Construction started on the palace in 1459 by the conqueror, Sultan Mehmet II and continued to be renovated and expanded throughout the centuries. The palace was used as a residence and administrative headquarters to the Ottoman Empire for four centuries.
The palace opened as a museum in 1924 and is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Istanbul. The museum is not only notable for its beautiful architecture and art collections but also for its history of the Ottoman Empire.
Topkapi Palace is situated on the top of a hill in a small peninsula, with views of the Golden Horn to the north, the Marmara Sea on the south and the Bosphorus to the northeast. The palace is made up of four different courtyards and features many exhibitions such as the treasury, weapons, religious relics, Ottoman clothing and portraits.
