Istanbul Guide

70

SERG ZASTAVKIN/SHUTTERSTOCK ©

TULIP SULTAN

When he ascended the throne aged 29, Sultan Ahmet III (r 1703–30) introduced many changes at Topkap ı . He extended the palace Harem and ordered the construction of several new structures – one of which was the elegant street fountain outside the Imperial Gate that is named in his honour. Ahmet is best known, however, for presiding over the Lâle Devri (Tu lip Period), a peaceful era of modernisation that also saw a tulip craze in Ottoman court society. Ahmet even introduced an annual festival to celebrate the blooming of this prized flower. Held over the three days surround ing the first full moon in April, the fête was staged in the gardens of the palace’s Fourth Court, which was spe cially decorated with vases of tulips and tiny coloured glass lamps. Trilling nightingales in cages provided enter tainment, as did palace musicians. Today the annual İ stanbul Tulip Festival in April contin ues the tradition across the city. SULTANAHMET & AROUND TOPKAPI PALACE

Looking over the Marble Terrace towards the Baghdad Kiosk

In the first room, look for the jewel-encrusted Sword of Süleyman the Magnificent and the Throne of Ahmed I (aka Arife Throne), which is inlaid with mother-of-pearl and was designed by Sedefhar Mehmet A ğ a, architect of the Blue Mosque. It’s one of four imperial thrones on dis play here. The second room exhibits non-Ottoman objects received as gifts or spoils of war, including a glittering zinc jug with golden adornments from Tabriz, Iran. The tiny Indian figures, mainly made from seed pearls, are also well worth seeking out. After passing through the third room and ad miring the 16th-century gold-plated Ottoman helmet encrusted with turquoise, rubies and em eralds, you will come to the last and most impres sive room, which is home to the Treasury’s most famous exhibit: the Topkap ı Dagger . The object of the criminal heist in Jules Dassin’s 1964 film Topkap ı , the dagger features three enormous emeralds on the hilt and a watch set into the pom mel. Also here is the Kas ı kç ı (Spoonmaker’s) Diamond , a teardrop-shaped 86-carat rock sur rounded by dozens of smaller stones. It was first worn by Mehmet IV at his accession to the throne in 1648.