{"id":1185,"date":"2009-03-03T14:37:59","date_gmt":"2009-03-03T14:37:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.msadventuresinitaly.com\/blog\/?p=1185"},"modified":"2009-03-07T12:56:03","modified_gmt":"2009-03-07T12:56:03","slug":"visit-a-harem-imperial-harem-in-topkapi-palace-istanbul-turkey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.msadventuresinitaly.com\/blog\/2009\/03\/03\/visit-a-harem-imperial-harem-in-topkapi-palace-istanbul-turkey\/","title":{"rendered":"Visit a Harem: Imperial Harem in Topkapi Palace, Istanbul, Turkey"},"content":{"rendered":"

More posts about Istanbul on Ms. Adventures in Italy<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

The Imperial Harem<\/strong> (Harem-i H\u00fcmay\u00fbn<\/em>) is one of the most visited sights inside the Topkapi palace<\/strong> just mere meters from the Blue Mosque<\/a>.<\/p>\n

I have to admit I\u2019ve read a few historicals that were set in harems so I was curious to finally see one. The harem was at its heyday during the 16th and 17th centuries.<\/p>\n

There are an estimated 100 rooms in the Imperial Harem, though we were only able to see a percentage of them. Here, inside the Hall of the Ablution Fountain<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Hall<\/a><\/p>\n

The mother of the Sultan (Valide Sultan<\/em>) was the most powerful woman in the harem, even more powerful than the Sultan\u2019s numerous wives and concubines. Here, the Apartment of the Queen Mother<\/strong> was the closest to the Sultan’s.<\/p>\n

\"Inside<\/a><\/p>\n

This was the Imperial Hall, also known as the Imperial Sofa<\/strong>, Throne Room Within<\/strong> or Hall of Diversions<\/strong>, is where the Sultan would be entertained along with treasured guests and his family. On the upper left is the balcony where the Sultan’s mother and his wife\/favorites could view the entertainment.<\/p>\n

\"Imperial<\/a><\/p>\n

Even outside walls in some courtyards were decorated in tiles.<\/p>\n

\"Intricate<\/a><\/p>\n

Like the Blue Mosque and much of Turkey, tiles are very important in the decoration of the harem, and the quality is still very clear even after so many years.<\/p>\n

\"Intricate<\/a><\/p>\n

Here in the Twin Kiosk<\/strong>, built in the 17th century consists of two rooms, with stained glass windows and more tiles.<\/p>\n

\"Inside<\/a><\/p>\n

I loved the decorations used in the harem. The bathroom is perhaps the most stark-looking of all the rooms in the harem – all cement walls and marble floors with bright gold lavatory fixtures.<\/p>\n

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\"A<\/a><\/p>\n

The visit to the Harem was definitely a must-see and I recommend it. You’ll have to purchase an extra ticket to see the harem, and even the audio guide is extra, but worth it.<\/p>\n

I can only hope that they open more rooms in the future to give us a better glimpse of life in the harem. I even found an excellent 360-degree virtual visit to the Imperial Harem in Topkapi Palace<\/a> worth checking.<\/p>\n

Resources<\/h3>\n