We started the day at the Topkapi Palace, the palace of the Sultans for nearly 400 years. We were glad to get here early because it got crowded pretty quickly. We were met by our guide for the day - Simi - who did a great job! I learned new and interesting facts about the sites even though I had toured them last year.
This is the first gate into the first courtyard, which was open to the public.
This is the second gate where only palace residents (a total of 4000), or invited guest could enter.
Inside the Vizers (Councilors') meeting hall.
The throne and throne room of the Sultan. A running water fountain and deaf guards provided necessary privacy for conversations.
Inner courtyard. It is early spring here and some of the fruit trees are in bloom. The gardens were filled with hiacynths that were just opening, pretty pansies, and a ton of well pruned rose bushes that will be beautiful later in the year.
Overlooking the Bosphorus Straight
We are on the European side of the city, looking across at the Anatolian (Asian) side.
Hagia Sophia. Over 1500 years old. Has been an Orthodox Church and a mosque and is now a museum.
Look how thick the butresses are that support the walls. No wonder they have withstood the earthquakes this region is prone to.
Good looking group!
Inside the Hagia Sophia. The circular Arabic scripts behind me are for the Prophet and the first four Caliphs (religious leaders of the Ottoman Empire). They are so large that they will not fit out the door of the building and thus must have been constructed within it. Each is covered with the skin of ONE camel - stretched incredibly thin and tight.
It is the fourth largest worship space in the world.
You can see there are many places throughout that are in desperate need of restoration and repair. Our guide says it is a constant process, not a project with an end date.
Special seating for the Emperor to worship.
Scaffolding reaching all the way to the top of the ceiling.
No comments:
Post a Comment