Topkapı Palace, located in Istanbul’s Sarayburnu district, served as the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire and the residence of the sultans for approximately 400 of its 600-year history. At its peak, the palace housed nearly 4,000 people.

Commissioned by Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror in 1478, Topkapı Palace remained the official seat of government and the residence of the Ottoman sultans for around 380 years, until Sultan Abdülmecid had Dolmabahçe Palace built. Initially covering an area of around 700,000 square meters, the palace complex today spans approximately 80,000 square meters.

Topkapı Palace was built on the site of the ancient Byzantine acropolis, at the tip of the historical peninsula of Istanbul, between the Sea of Marmara, the Bosphorus, and the Golden Horn. The palace is enclosed on the land side by the Sûr-ı Sultânî (Imperial Walls), commissioned by Sultan Mehmed II, and on the sea side by the ancient Byzantine walls. In addition to various gates leading to different parts of the palace both by land and sea, its monumental main entrance is the Bâb-ı Hümâyûn (Imperial Gate), located behind Hagia Sophia.

Topkapı Palace was divided into two main sections, reflecting its functions as the center of government, education, and the sultan’s residence. These were the Birun, comprising the outer service buildings located in the first and second courtyards, and the Enderun, made up of the inner structures used for palace administration and the private domain of the sultan.