When Irene and I reviewed the images from our visit to the Topkapi Palace, we found few of building exteriors, many partial interiors, especially artistic details, and lots of flowers. Usually, I photograph details and patterns and Irene tells a story with images; but this time our results are similar. In retrospect, I think they reflect the subject matter. Other than the gates, towers, lawn and flowers and a few decorative features the building exteriors are relatively plain; but the interiors house beatiful craftsmanship and remarkable artifacts. Unfortunately, photography was prohibited in many interiors and artifact displays. We have merged our photos to show you what struck our fancy.
We had a long walk behind the Hagia Sophia to get to the Topkapi Palace visitors entrance.
Along the way, we saw this man having his shoes shined. I was fascinated by the brass stand used for shoe shines in Istanbul.
A little further along, we spotted this bride and groom posing for wedding photos at a gate in the Hagia Sophia wall. Later we would see them getting a few more poses in one of the Palace Courtyards.
This is a detail of a part of the Hagia Sophia external wall.
We continued up Sogukcesme Street with the Hagia Sophia on our right and the Topkapi Palace wall on our left. About a dozen small, modern homes have been built along the way using the Palace wall as their back wall. This photo shows two of them, each with an exterior spiral staircase.
This fountain decorated one garden.
Flowers lined the street.
Finally, we entered the First Courtyard of the Topkapi Palace through the Imperial Gate.
When we looked back, we had a good view of the Hagia Sophia.
On our left in the Courtyard, was the Hagia Irene, the main church of Constantinople until the Hagia Sophia was completed in 537.
The name means "Divine Peace." In Greek mythology, Irene was the goddess of peace.
This detail from the the wall of Hagia Irene illustrates many centuries of repairing and rebuilding/
Red tulips brightened the entire First Courtyard.
Throngs were lined up to enter the Second Courtyard.
If you want to see some of the parade of humanity, there is a video at the end of the post.
The oval plaque contains the signature of the "builder,"
Mehmet the Conqueror.
An exhibit further on featured numerous stone plaques, like this one, with his carved signature.
As we entered the gate , we encountered the Divan Tower .
The Second and Third Courtyards were decorated with masses of hyacinths and tall evergreens
.
The interiors of many of the living quarters contained stunning mosaics and handsome windows.
A handsome fountain sat on an outside deck.
A gatehouse looked out onto the Bosphorous.
We focused on some of the mosaic details. . .
this detail of a porch ceiling
and the outdoor details of the Divan entrance.
On our way out, we passed these tiles from more recents times.
We stopped inside the Imperial Gate to photograph the ceiling
and Irene spotted another bride and groom.
She followed them out to get one last picture.
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