Topkapi Palace.

Topkapi Palace is located in Istanbul, served as the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire from 1465 to 1853 years. Construction of the palace was started by Sultan Mehmet II, on the ruins of the palace of Emperor Constantine in 1459 and completed in 1465. Topkapı Palace is one of the seven hills of the city and stands on the historic peninsula, from where you can see a magnificent view of the Bosporus. The palace consists of smaller buildings joined together and surrounded by four yards.
First Court extends throughout the Serail, surrounded by high walls. It leads the main gate, called the Imperial. In addition to Topkapı Palace, the first courtyard contains the old imperial mint (built in 1727 g), the Church of St. Irene, Archaeological Museum (founded in 19 century) and the many fountains (including a fountain executioner), pavilions and gardens (among which were the old imperial rose garden ). Huge Gates are welcome to the palace, as well as in the Second Courtyard, which is a park around which housed the palace hospital, bakery, stables, the imperial harem, sofa and kitchen. Through Gates of Happiness can be reached in the third courtyard, which is regarded as the heart of the palace. It stretches the lush flowering gardens, surrounded by the Secret Chamber Hall, where the courtiers and servants where there is a treasure house of precious Ottoman period. In the Third Courtyard is located harem and several pavilions, one of them placed the library of Ahmed III. The fourth courtyard with several pavilions, kiosks, gardens and a private garden terraces Sultan.
On the territory of Topkapı Palace is also located tower Justice Hall Holy Mantle containing relics of the Prophet Muhammeta and the first caliph, the Throne Hall in the Harem where the Sultan received his guests and envoys, and the Baghdad Pavilion in the Fourth Yard, built by Murad IV.
In 1853, Sultan Abdulmecid decided to move his residence to a new and modern palace, so the Topkapı Palace now serves as a museum dedicated to the imperial era, and is one of the greatest attractions of Istanbul.