The Fourth Court – Topkapi Palace

Two path and and a stairway lead to the Fourth Court, where mainly the private apartments of the sultans were situated.

Sofa Mosque

Continuing through the stairway, on the right, can be seen the small “Sofa Mosque” which was erected in 1809 during the reign of Sultan Mahmut II.

Mecidiye Köşk (small ornamental pavilion)

Beyond, and directly ahead, lies the newest of the palace buildings. It was erected by Sultan Abdülmecit I in the year 1840, before he moved to the new palace, “Dolmabahçe”, It shows the Turkish construction style under the influence of European architecture. Today it has been transformed into a fine restaurant with a magnificent panoramic view. The Bosphorus, Asiatic Istanbul, and the Sea of Marmara can be seen form the long front terrace.

Just in front of the “Mecidiye Köşk” and costructed in the same style, is the building in which where the sultan’s caftans displayed.

Residence of the chief physician of the sultans “Hekimbaşı Odası”

This, one of the oldest buildings of the palace (15th century), stands at the centre of the court. This square -shapeed house was the palace chemist’s where medicines were produced. It is supposed that, it was double the height of today. The chief physician controlled the prepartion of differen medications.

Sofa Köşk (Terrace Pavilion)

Passing the residince of the chief physician, at the top of the stairs, is the “Sofa Köşk”. It is situated in the centre of the Fourth Court an is the only wooeden house of the palace apar from those seen in the Harem. It is consists of two big rooms, the rear half is supported by fine columns. This pavilion was erected during the reign of Sultan Ahmet II şn 1703. It probably served as a resting room at that time, and later, during the Tulip Period (1718-1730), it accommodated guests. Every year in April during the Tulip Period, big festivities were celebrated in the tulip garden, which was at one time situated in front of the Sofa Köşk.

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