Lonely Planet İstanbul Guide

small structure commissioned by İbrahim I in 1640 as a picturesque place to break the fast of Ramazan. Murat IV built the Revan Kiosk in 1636 after reclaiming the city of Yerevan (now in Armenia) from Persia. The kiosk was also known as the Chamber of Turbans (Sarık Odası) because the sultans’ turbans were kept there. In 1639 Murat IV constructed the Baghdad Kiosk , one of the last examples of classical palace architecture, to commemorate his victory over that city. Notice its superb İznik tiles, painted ceiling and mother-of-pearl and tortoiseshell inlay. The small Circumcision Room (Sünnet Odası) was used for the ritual that admits Muslim boys to manhood. Built by İbrahim in 1640, the outer walls of the chamber are graced by particularly beautiful tile panels. When he ascended the throne aged 29, Sultan Ahmet III (r 1703–30) introduced many changes at Topkapı. 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 (Tulip 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 surrounding the first full moon in April, the fête was staged in the gardens of the palace’s Fourth Court, which was specially decorated with vases of tulips and tiny coloured glass lamps. Trilling nightingales in cages provided entertainment, as did palace musicians. Today the annual İstanbul Tulip Festival in April continues the tradition across the city. TULIP SULTAN