Hello All,

Well today we had quite a day indeed! We spent all day exploring the Topkopi Palace!! It was intense. It cost us 13 USD per person for a grand total of 78 USD to get in but that wasn’t too bad considering our budget.  It was great too because we definitely wanted to spend all day seeing the place and we didn’t even have to bring lunches or anything because it was located so close to our hostel . We just went back to the hostel for lunch then took the short walk back to the palace.  This place back in its prime was like a small city.  It’s over 175 acres!! We literally learned something new around every corner.  From all the courtyard attractions to the Harem and Treasury and royal living quarters, it was quite a day!

Brief History of the palace:

Topkapi Palace was the home to the ruling powers of the Ottoman Empire for over three centuries.  However, it was more than just the private residence of the Sultan and his court.  It was the seat of the supreme executive and judiciary council as well as home to a training school and the Palace School.  In the first courtyard, there was a hospital, bakery, armory, a state mint, and a part of the treasury.  This was all open to the public.  The second courtyard was open to people who had business with the council.  The third courtyard was reserved to the Sultan’s household and palace children.  The fourth courtyard was exclusively reserved for the Sultan’s use.  In 1924, Topkapi Palace was converted to a museum with the order of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.  The final step was the opening of the Harem to the public in 1960.

Until Next Time,

Zach Mehlenbacher