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Topkapi Palace
The actual palace of Ottoman Sultans, their offices, the political center of the Empire, and the home to Sultans' families for hundreds of years before "modernization" set in and the rulers moved to more Euro-centric dwellings. This palace, originally built in AD 1465, is now the home of one of Istanbul's most famous museums, don't miss the Harem and the treasury. Also don't miss seeing the famous jeweled dagger (an undelivered gift to the Persian Shah Nadir and focal point of the great film Topkapi) and the Topkapi diamond. Other interesting Islamic items not to miss include: prophet Mohammed's saber, hair from his beard, his clothing, old copies of the Qur'an, and also sacred keys intended for the Ka'aba (see our Saudi Arabia section). The Harem section is where the Sultan and his family actually lived (vs. a group of women serving the Sultan's every wish...). I think it might be so popular because of the word "Harem" which has been glazed in the West in a veil of Orientalistic fantasy. The word actually means sanctuary (and forbidden, from the Arabic Harr-am) - thus it is the "forbidden" to outsiders area and other curious menfolk, family only! Not a group of scantily clad belly-dancing ladies in waiting... Seriously though, the Harem gets overcrowded, so it's best to go very early or later toward closing time. The Museum has enough for a days' worth of gawking, though it, like all museums & old buildings, can get fairly repetitive, so see the interesting things first! Museum hours are 9:00 am (though double check because sometimes it is 9:30)- 5:00 pm.
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