DAILY TOURS: Ottoman Grandeur

We will start our introduction to the palaces of Ottomans visiting Dolmabahçe Palace, the architecture of which is a blend of various European styles. The palace built built in 1843 - 1856 was a creation of Karabet Balyan, the court architect of Sultan Abdulmecid. The three-storied palace built on a symmetrical plan has 285 rooms, 43 halls, and six hamams. The palace has survived intact with its original decorations, furniture, silk carpets and curtains. It’s surpassed many other palaces in the world in wealth and magnificence. The pride of the palace is 4000 kg chandelier if Bohemian glass in the Ceremonial Hall. 

Then, continue to the island of tranquillity and peace in the middle of this bustling cosmopolitan giant, the Yildiz Royal Gardens located just few minute of drive from Dolmabahce Palace. 
This paradise of beauty and elegance once a forest during Byzantine era was converted to the hunting grounds during the rule of the Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, but in the 19th century, in the wake of the construction of the palace was transformed into the magnificent landscape garden. 

Have lunch at one of the local Turkish restaurants. 

After the lunch, contunue acquaintance with Ottoman architectural heritage and visit the Topkapi Palace, the most extensive and fascinating monument of Ottoman civil architecture in existence. In addition to its architectural and historical value, it contains superb and unrivalled collections of porcelains, armour, fabrics, jewels, illuminated manuscripts, calligraphy and many objects of art formerly belonging to the Sultans. Topkapi was built between 1459 and 1465 as the seat of government of the newly installed Ottoman regime.
Visit the beautifully tiled Pavilion of the Sacred Relics, home to some of Christian Islam's holiest relics. These include (Christian) the Moses’ rod, a piece of St. John the Baptist's skull and a section of his forearm, enclosed within a solid gold model, the King David’s sword, Joseph’s turban, the grain gage of Abraham; (Muslim) one of the Prophet's teeth, fragments of his beard and, most precious of all, his Holy Mantle.
Other highlights of the museum are the Imperial Treasury home for the famous Topkapi Dagger as well as for the 86-carat Spoon Maker's (or Pigot) Diamond; the Royal Kitchens with incomparable collection of porcelain from all over the world; the Armory and unique Fabrics chambers.

Later, visit Little Hagia Sophia Mosque, formerly the Church of the Saints Sergius and Bacchus, is a former Eastern Orthodox Church dedicated to Saints Sergius and Bacchus in Constantinople, converted into a mosque during the Ottoman Empire by Hüseyin Ağa, the Chief Black Eunuch. At that time the portico and madrasah were added to the church. In 740 the Grand Vizier Hacı Ahmet Paşa restored the mosque and built the Şadırvan (fountain). Damage caused by the earthquakes of 1648 and 1763 was repaired in 1831 under the reign of Sultan Mahmud II. In 1762 the minaret was first built. It was demolished in 1940 and built again in 1956.