Topkapı Palace was the official and primary residence of the
Ottoman Sultans for approximately 400 years (1465-1856) of their
624-year reign. After the Conquest of Constantinople in 1453,
Mehmet II ordered to built his palace in its present location on
top of the ancient Byzantine ruins, meanwhile he spent some time
during its construction at a smaller palace where there is the
University of Istanbul today, in Bayezit square. Once they moved
to Topkapi palace, the old one was called as "Old Palace" and
Topkapi as the "New Palace". But local people called it as
"Topkapi" which in Turkish means "Gate of Cannons" because of
huge cannons displayed outside of its gates, those which were
used during the Conquest. The palace was a setting for state
occasions and royal entertainments and is a major tourist
attraction today, containing the most holy relics of the Muslim
world such as the Prophet Muhammed's cloak and sword. Topkapı
Palace is among those monuments belonging to the "Historic Areas
of Istanbul", which bec