Royal Treasury of the Topkapi Palace

The most famous jewelry and precious other objects collection of the Topkapi Palace has long been inside halls of the right flank of the third courtyard. Actually, this part is one of the oldest sections of the palace complex and known with the name of the founder Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror, in Turkish as “Fatih” Pavilion. The structure dates back to 1470s at a very privileged location on a cliff, which required a top-level engineering of its time. Recently, during the last major restorations, the steel beams were added to protect the building.

Inside there are 4 salons and a covered balcony that looks over one of the best views of Bosphorus in Istanbul. Inside the halls, you can find pieces from the most exclusive jewelries to the examples of sophisticated artisanship of the Ottoman centuries in Istanbul. For example, the famous giant diamond of 86 carats is presented here now. You may see the royal decorations of armories or thrones of sultans in the galleries along with the renowned “Topkapi Dagger”. There are boxes of emerald, ruby and gold scattered in the showcases.

In the halls, there are also a group of daily objects from belts to bowls or from trays to chandeliers that represents the ordinary usages and luxury style at the same time. Such pieces are all carved from or covered by precious materials like crystal, gold or ceramics. Some other pieces could also provide you a glimpse into the habits of palace lives like a incense burner or a chessboard out of ivory from the 16th century.