The Ottoman empire was centered here in the Topkopi Palace between the 15th and 19th centuries. The palace contains one of the world's richest museums of fabled jewels and oriental porcelains. Click on any thumbnail picture to open it in a full sized photo on a new page.

(22K) 720 x 284	Across the Bosphorus, the Topkopi Palace has grown along the hillside.	(54K) 738 x 792	This is the main entrance of the Topkopi Palace. Just out of sight on the left was parked a new Mercedes sedan protected by several security guards.	(27K) 417 x 594	This panorama shows some of the extensive and elaborate detailing found throughout the structure.
(38K) 576 x 432	This is a small detail of a golden book cover which is encrusted with rubies and emeralds.	(15K) 720 x 540	This is the renoun Topkopi Dagger which gave its name to a movie thriller.	(22K) 405 x 540	Quite a bit of armor from throughout the ages was on display in the Topkopi museum.
(23K) 576 x 300	This is one of the larger gardens of the Topkopi Palace.	(18K) 378 x 720	We were told that this was the former throne room of the Topkopi Palace.	(16K) 237 x 576	This panorama illustrates some of the basic designs ideas of the Topkopi Palace. This style of fireplace was found to be common in many older buildings.
(20K) 432 x 576	Now this is a room in the Topkopi Palace which I would have liked to take home. With extensive tile work it felt to be a very cool place to rest on a hot day.	(38K) 614 x 648	Entrance to the Supreme Court set inside the garden area of the Topkopi Palace.