If Ottoman Sultans were on MTV “Cribs”

Day 4

We visited Topkapi Palace Museum (and Harem-”Where the magic happens…..“) built by Mehmet the Conqueror soon after entering Constantinople and was used for over 4 centuries by Ottoman sultans. The expansive palace consists 4 courts, dividing public and private spaces, overlooking the Sea of Marmara.

At times up to 5000 people would live within the palace walls including, the sultan, his mother, his four wives, his harem of up to 300, the Eunuchs, the Janissaries (his hired guard), the Grand Vizier, the Viziers, cooks, other staff, etc.

http://www.australiangemmologist.com.au/ab23-08.html

The treasury included assorted “bling” such as The Spoonmakers 86 carat diamond, many many ruby and emerald adorned house wares. The sultans wore incredible robes and “MC Hammer” pants.

The afternoon was spend on a boat ride up the Bosphorous by many of the later more modern palaces.

We ended the day by heading up the hill to the largest mosque, Suleymaniye Camii, in Istanbul which was closed for renovations at the time of our visit