Topkapı Palace, the largest of Istanbul's palaces

 

Topkapı Palace, the largest of Istanbul's palaces

Topkapı Palace enjoys a strategic position at the heart of Istanbul's historic quarter,

standing in the district of ” Fatih” close to the Golden Horn and the Sea of Marmara, looking straight out over the Bosphorus,

the natural dividing line between the continents of Asia and Europe
and it is the largest Ottoman palace in Istanbul.
It is made up of several sections

1- The outer courtyard

The largest courtyard in the palace, known as Alay Square, which you reach as soon as you step through Topkapı Palace's main gate.
2- Divan Square

This section holds the hall where the ministers and judges of the Ottoman state met,

along with the royal stables, the guards' wing and the palace kitchens.

3- The sultan's private quarters
This is where 22 of the Ottoman sultans lived.

The sultan's private quarters at Topkapı Palace include the palace school,

as well as Sultan Ahmed III's private library

4- The harem of Topkapı Palace
One of the main sections of Topkapı Palace, reserved for the sultan's wives and the servants who attended them

5- The palace gardens
The palace has a collection of lush gardens, the most notable being the sultan's hanging gardens inside the palace,

as well as the “Gülhane” park, which sits on a hill behind the palace.