Topkapı Palace Harem
The ancient Byzantine walls were joined with the Sur-ı Sultani, effectively separating the palace from the city. Built by Fatih Sultan Mehmed, Topkapı Palace, with its impenetrable walls, housed the harem and began being used in 1478. Today, this grand palace serves as a museum, shedding light on history with the dazzling wealth of the imperial treasury on display. The harem, spanning an area of about 150 meters in length and 80 meters in width, is a labyrinth of approximately 400 interconnected rooms, including halls, corridors, and courtyards. It remained the greatest secret of Topkapı Palace until it was closed in 1550 and remained so until 1909.
