Topkapi Palace

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The Topkapi Palace is the sprawling imperial palace of the Ottoman dynasty, a palimpsest of history and architecture poised on the cliffs in the center of the city and strategically overlooking the entrance to the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn. This three-hour walking seminar takes participants into the palace with a historian to explore the internal workings of the Ottoman court and the political intrigues and architectural accomplishments at the heart of this 400-year empire.

Our walk begins with the maps in the courtyard where we'll provide an overview of the complex and the Ottoman empire generally, tracing the Ottomans from their origins outside of Istanbul, to their conquering of the city in the 15th century, to their eventual rule of an empire that rivaled Rome's and stretched from Yemen to Croatia, and as far east as Iran. We then go into the palace and discuss palace life and the power of the sultans, visiting such key structures as the harem and receiving rooms. 

On an

The Topkapi Palace is the sprawling imperial palace of the Ottoman dynasty, a palimpsest of history and architecture poised on the cliffs in the center of the city and strategically overlooking the entrance to the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn. This three-hour walking seminar takes participants into the palace with a historian to explore the internal workings of the Ottoman court and the political intrigues and architectural accomplishments at the heart of this 400-year empire.

Our walk begins with the maps in the courtyard where we'll provide an overview of the complex and the Ottoman empire generally, tracing the Ottomans from their origins outside of Istanbul, to their conquering of the city in the 15th century, to their eventual rule of an empire that rivaled Rome's and stretched from Yemen to Croatia, and as far east as Iran. We then go into the palace and discuss palace life and the power of the sultans, visiting such key structures as the harem and receiving rooms. 

On any given day our focus may tend toward the architecture and symbolism of the complex or toward the political history of the Ottomans or toward daily life in the court, owing to the area of expertise of our docent and the interests of the group. Regardless of our course—and, often, we pursue many—the Palace itself will provide the textbook and background for this fascinating exploration of Ottoman history.