Topkapi the administrative palace of the Ottoman Dynasty, that ruled on three continents for over six centuries is definitely a must see. Open every day, except Tuesday the museum and the artifacts displayed deserve a thourough attention. The construction started in 1470, the palace dont show an architectural uniformity in the classical sense as each reigning Sultan added new parts or seperate parts of it were rebuilt after the destruction of fires and earthquakes. The beatiful gardens of the palace, that occupied the eastern end of the peninsula in the time interval the palace was used by the dynasty, serve different purposes today. Through the Central Gate, adorned with two defense towers on two sides one reaches a large courtyard.
