One of my first things I did in Istanbul was visit Topkapi Palace.  This is the place where the Ottoman Sultans lived from 1465 to 1853, after which they moved to Dolmabahçe Palace, which at the time was considered more stylish and opulent (which is hard to imagine after seeing the lavishness of Topkapi).  At its peak, Topkapi Palace was home to over 4000 people.  Residents rarely had to venture out as the palace was essentially a city within a city, housing a hospital, schools, mosques, horse stables, libraries, a mint, a treasury, giant kitchens to feed its inhabitants, and even a Circumcision Room for the young princes (a Muslim rite of passage).  There was also the infamous Harem, where along with the Sultan’s mother, wives and children lived his concubines – up to 800 at any given time.  Today the palace contains holy Muslim relics, examples of Ottoman arms, portraits of the Sultans and Ottoman art, some amazing tilework and a collection of jewels, heirlooms and spoils of war that made me wish I had been born into a royal family.  It seemed everything was gold and encrusted with emeralds, rubies, and pearls.  They really knew how to live back then.

The imposing front gates of the Palace.

The Tower of Justice

An example of the fantastic tilework.

Definitely a must-see for any visit to Istanbul.