Topkapı Palace Museum increases its popularity

ISTANBUL

The new section is a continuation of the Chamber of the Secret Relics (Kutsal Emanetler) in the Topkapı Palace Museum.

Istanbul’s Topkapı Palace Museum, from which the Ottoman state was governed for 400 years, has a new permanent display section. Culture and Tourism Minister Ömer Çelik has decided to turn the section, where the Ehl-i Beyt exhibition was opened in 2008, into a permanent display of the museum.
Aside from the Ehl-i Beyt display room in the Hall of the Privy Chamber (Has Oda), another Ehl-i Beyt display room has been opened in the Armory Treasure Room (Silahtar Hazinesi).

In the new section, which is a continuation of the Chamber of the Secret Relics (Kutsal Emanetler), the items on display are the sword of the Prophet Ali, the sweater, coffin cover, chest and prayer rug of Fatma, the gown of the Prophet Hüseyin, the soil of holy Karbala, the soil of Madinah-al Munawwarah and the beard of the Prophet Muhammad. The pieces in this section, which is open to visits, are displayed on rotation.

Positive impact of restorations

Right after he took the post, Çelik initiated restorations at Topkapı Palace. With the new renovations, the palace returned to its original structure. Also, the whole holy relics in the museum were cleaned and restored for the first time in 100 years after the time of the Ottoman Sultan Reşad. In every section of the museum, one can feel the soul of the era.

After the restorations, the Topkapı Palace Museum was visited by 3.4 million people in 2013. The Harem (seraglio) section, which is located inside the museum, but is visited with a separate ticket, received 30,491 visitors.  The museum also made a quick start in 2014. The number of people who visited Topkapı Palace in January increased by 23.56 percent to 227,819 from 184,375 compared to the same period of last year.

The historic Gülhane (rose garden) was also reconstructed in Topkapı Palace. Around 40,000 roses were planted in the historic Gülhane, which is separate from the park of the same name located below Topkapı Palace.

Also, half a million hyacinths and tulips were planted in the museum and special hyacinth and tulip gardens were opened. With the contributions of the Isparta-Güneykent Municipality, the Isparta scented rose garden was also opened.

Such cultural renovations increased people’s interest in the museum. The number of people who visited the palace with a Müzekart was above 500,000 this year. Overall, 635,000 people have entered the museum using a Müzekart.