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After Yavuz Sultan Selim conquered Egypt in
1517, he got the title 'caliph', which means the leader of all
Islam world, and brought the holy relics which belong to Hz.
Muhammad to Istanbul. All the following Ottoman Sultans
enthroned used this title. Sultan Murat III decided to display
the holy remnants in the two adjacent rooms which were called
Hasoda or Hirka-i Saadet Dairesi and used as a private room of
the sultan until that time. In the first room, which attracts
attention with blue Iznik tiles decorating the interior and
exterior walls, there are drainpipes, locks and keys, and also
swords of the four caliphs after Prophet. Muhammad. In a special
display window in the second room, the jacket, the sword, the
flag, the bow, the footprint, the tooth, the beard hair and a
letter which all belong to the Prophet Muhammad are exhibited.
The last work to be mentioned in the third courtyard is the
LIBRARY OF THE PALACE located in the middle of the courtyard
which was built during the reign of Ahmet III in 1719- Nearly
4.000 manuscripts of this library which was completely
constructed from marble are displayed in other collections today.
Only colorful tiles can be seen in the building today.
There are two passages to the fourth
courtyard |
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which is the last courtyard of the
palace. Going through the passages, we arrive'in the
TULIP GARDEN of the Sultans. Flowers of this garden are
very pleasant especially in April and May. Sultans had
the pleasure to watch the beauty of this garden from the
balconies in the SOFA KIOSK to the corner of the garden.
When we go upstairs to the left of the garden, we reach
the courtyard called Terrace of the Golden Horn. There
is an exquisite panorama of the Golden Horn from this
terrace. This is the best view of Eminonu and Galata
districts and bridges of the Golden Horn.
On one side of the terrace is BAGHDAD
KIOSK constructed during the reign of Murat IV in 1638,
and on the other, is the SUNNET (circumcision) ROOM.
Especially Baghdad Kiosk is one of the most elegant
works of the 17th century Ottoman architecture with its
blue tiles, gold plated dome, cupboard lids inlayed with
ivory and tortoise shell.
End of the garden facing the Sea of
Marmara there are HEKIMBASJ ODASI and MECIDIYE KIOSK
down the stairs. This building was the last constructed
one before the palace was abandoned. It was constructed
upon the order of Abdulmecit I by Sarkis Balyan in 1840.
Preziori collection existed in the floral decorated
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