Topkapi Palace

Built from 1459 by Sultan Mehmet II, the conqueror of Byzantine Constantinople, the Topkapi Palace is one of the most important monuments in the Muslim world as it contains the cloak and sword of the prophet Mohammad. It is also within the area of Istanbul which has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The Ottoman Sultans lived here for over 400 years until 1856 when they moved to the newly built Dolmabahçe Palace, alongside the Bosporus. It is now a major tourist site as a museum and contains many fine examples of Ottoman history.