The Topkapi Palace, the Ottomans' second palace in Istanbul, is a remarkable architectural treasure that displays the evolving tastes and styles of four centuries. Constructed between 1459 and 1478, the palace and its walls were constantly modified and expanded by different sultans to accommodate practical needs, commemorate victories, and repair damages caused by natural disasters.
The palace's development mirrored the growth and changes in the empire. As the empire expanded, so did the palace. Additionally, the sultans' sense of insecurity led to the incorporation of nature within the palace walls through miniatures, tiles, and other elements.
Unlike other palaces from the late Ottoman period, the Topkapi Palace has survived to this day with its humble simplicity and practicality. It served as a city palace for approximately 4,000 people, covering a vast area of 70 hectares (173 acres). For nearly 400 years and 25 sultans, the palace housed the Ottoman rulers from Sultan Mehmet II to Abdulmecit until it was transformed into a museum in 1924.
The Topkapi Palace, a grand and opulent structure, was meticulously divided into two distinct sections known as Birun and Enderun. The palace featured four consecutive courtyards, with the first two serving as the outer palace (Birun) and the latter two as the inner palace (Enderun), which housed the Harem. Visitors of the palace were welcomed into the first courtyard through the imposing Bab-I Humayun (Imperial Gate), which led to the public area of the palace. This busy space housed fundamental facilities such as a hospital with a capacity of 120 beds, a bakery, an arsenal, a mint, storage areas, and dormitories, very close to a thriving city center.
Beyond this lively courtyard, the second courtyard, known as Divan Meydani (Divan Square), commenced after the Bab-us Selam (Gate of Salutation). This area served as the seat of the Divan, the Imperial Council Hall, where individuals with business matters could seek an audience. The Divan, an important administrative body, assembled four times a week. Initially, the sultan would actively participate in these council meetings, but later on, he would observe from behind a latticed grille on the wall, intervening only when necessary. The Divan encompassed two crucial rooms: the Office of the Grand Vizier and the Public Records Office, also known as the Tower of Justice. Additionally, this section housed the privy stables and kitchens.
The palace's kitchens, a culinary organization, comprised a series of ten spacious rooms with domed ceilings and chimney-like structures. In these extensive kitchens, meals were prepared to feed approximately 4,000 individuals. Due to the distinct culinary requirements of different classes, the kitchens were utilized separately to cater to various palatial residents and staff.