ISTANBUL: THE TOKAPI PALACE

The Topkapi Palace, home to many sultans and their very many wives, concubines and eunuchs. Construction began in 1459 and was completed in 1856. Highlights included seeing the imperial treasure, library and harem. The palace became a museum in 1924.

Aside from experiencing pleasure from their many wives and concubines, the Sultans collected many beautiful jewels including an 86 carat diamond known as the Spoonmaker’s Diamond and the Topkapi Dagger decorated with 3 large emeralds.

There were solid gold candlesticks that measured more than 3 feet in height and more jeweled tzotchkes accumulated over the centuries that the Ottoman sultans ruled.

On display was some of the clothing made from intricately patterned silks, velvets and embroidery. Some of the designs looked like they might have inspired Michael Jackson and could have been creations of Issey Miyake or Jean-Paul Gautier, beautiful and over the top stuff. 

The harem housed the concubines and wives there was a pecking order between the wives and the concubines in that any woman who slept with a sultan automatically got an upgraded apartment as her reward. Moving on from the harem and treasury were the palace kitchens which were massive in scale necessary to feed about 4000 people typically hanging around and serving the palace. The collection of porcelain from China was equally impressive as the sultans and their guests needed to have nice plates to eat on!!!