Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
At the far end of the courtyard is the Main Gate into the Harem, as well as a guard
room featuring two gigantic gilded mirrors. From this, a corridor on the left leads to the
Courtyard of the Women Servants and Consorts
. This is surrounded by baths, a laun-
dry fountain, a laundry, dormitories and private apartments.
Further on is
Sultan Ahmet's Kiosk
, decorated with a tiled chimney, followed by the
Apartments of the Valide Sultan
, the centre of power in the Harem. From these ornate
rooms the
valide sultan
oversaw and controlled her huge 'family'. Of particular note is the
Salon of the Valide
with its lovely 19th-century murals featuring bucolic views of İstan-
bul.
Past the adjoining
Courtyard of the Valide Sultan
is a splendid reception room with a
large fireplace that leads to a vestibule covered in Kütahya and İznik tiles dating from the
17th century. This is where the princes,
valide sultan
and senior concubines waited before
entering the handsome
Imperial Hall
for an audience with the sultan. Built during the
reign of Murat III, it was redecorated in baroque style by order of Osman III (r 1754-57).
Nearby is the
Privy Chamber of Murat III
, one of the most sumptuous rooms in the
palace. Dating from 1578, virtually all of its decoration is original and is thought to be the
work of Sinan. The three-tiered marble fountain was designed to give the sound of cascad-
ing water and to make it difficult to eavesdrop on the sultan's conversations. The gilded
canopied seating areas are later 18th-century additions.
Take the left door in the Privy Chamber of Murat III to access the
Privy Chamber of
Ahmet III
and an adjoining dining room built in 1705. This exquisite space is lined with
wooden panels decorated with images of flowers and fruits painted in lacquer.
Northeast (through the door to the right) of the Privy Chamber of Murat III are two of
the most beautiful rooms in the Harem - the
Twin Kiosk/Apartments of the Crown
Prince
. These two rooms date from around 1600; note the painted canvas dome in the
first room and the fine İznik tile panels above the fireplace in the second. The stained
glass is also noteworthy.
To the east of the Twin Kiosk is the
Courtyard of the Favourites
. Over the edge of the
courtyard (really a terrace) you'll see a large pool. Just past the courtyard (but on the floor
above) are the many small dark rooms that comprised the
kafes
where brothers or sons of
the sultan were imprisoned.
From here, a corridor leads east to a passage known as the Golden Road and then out
into the palace's Third Court.
