Biggest restoration in history of Istanbul's Topkapı Palace underway

ISTANBUL

Istanbul’s Topkapı Palace Museum is undergoing the most comprehensive restoration project in its history. The ongoing 24 projects are expected to cost 220 million Turkish Liras, Culture and Tourism Minister Nabi Avcı has said in a statement.

The restorations in the Dormitory of the Expeditionary Force (Seferli Koğuşu), the Conqueror’s Kiosk (Fatih Köşkü), Cellar Quarters (Kilerli Koğuşu), Library of Ahmet III / Enderun Library, Seraglio 1,2,3 stages, Beşirağa Mosque, the Matbah-ı Amire Palace Kitchens, Gülhane hospitals, military storages and the sustaining walls behind it, as well as the Sur-i Sultani have been continuing, Avcı said, adding that the installation of security systems have been continuing, as well as the works in the courtyard and landscape works. 

“Right now the number of works that have been ongoing in the Topkapı Palace is 24. When they are finished, the cost will be nearly 220 million liras. This is the most comprehensive restoration, conservation and merchandising work in the history of the palace,” he said. 

The Topkapı Palace, which turned into a museum on April 3, 1924 with the order of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and became affiliated to the Istanbul Asar-ı Atika Museums Directorate, underwent some small restorations in the same year and some parts of it were opened to visitors. 

An allocation of nearly 60,000 liras between 1924 and 1939 provided opportunity to restore some parts of the palace, such as broken glasses in the seraglio. 

Significant restorations were made in many parts of the palace between 1940 and 1944 with 1 million liras. 

Starting from 1961, storages were handled as an important problem. They were reorganized during this period. Important changes were made in exhibition halls and new exhibition spaces were organized. 

In 1971, some parts of the seraglio were restored and opened to visitors. The Audience Hall (Arz Odası); the sections of the Chinese and Japanese porcelains; the treasure, miniature and sultan portraits and the sultan vehicles were opened to visitors in 1972.