Government of the Ottoman Empire

Master artisans restore historical works with skill and care in the Mother-of-Pearl Lab, preserving Türkiye's rich heritage for future generations..

In the Mother-of-Pearl Lab, one of the 32 restoration and conservation labs under the National Palaces Presidency, works from pavilions, mansions and museums are skillfully restored to their former splendor.

For decades, beginning in the 19th century, Europeans referred to the Ottoman Empire as "the sick man of Europe." First sultans and then so-called reformers acting in their names sought autocratic power. The Porte covered for a crumbling economy with grandiose projects and compensated for lack of popularity with disastrous foreign adventures.

Istanbul's Topkapı Palace, affiliated with the National Palaces Department, opened its doors at night for the first time on June 30 to visitors.

The palace will be open every Saturday night between 9 and 11 p.m. and visitors will have the opportunity to tour the palace in two groups.

One of the phased restoration works, carried out in the Harem (seraglio) section of Topkapı Palace by the Presidency of National Palaces, has been completed.

The Concubines Courtyard (Cariyeler Taşlığı) and Bath and Kuşhane Kitchen were opened to visitors for the first time with their new arrangement.

The director of the Acropolis Museum reveals to protothema.gr how the Greek side has proven that the firman of Elgin, cited by the British, is not authentic

As the month of Ramadan will begin soon, approximately 600 works of art are on display for visitors in the Chamber of Holy Relics at Topkapı Palace.

The artworks in the Chamber of Holy Relics can be visited every day between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. except Tuesday.

The "Family Tree" painting from the Sultan Abdulhamid I era is being restored in the workshop of the National Palaces Painting Museum.

As Istanbul's historical sites are flooded with visitors, historical structures affiliated with the National Palaces in the country welcomed more than 7 million visitors in 2023.

The number of visitors to the palaces, mansions, pavilions and museums increased by 9 percent in 2023 compared to the previous year, reaching 7,261,241.

After the closed sections of Topkapı Palace have been opened to visitors, 60,000 people have visited the palace in three days.

The Mecidiye Mansion of Ottoman Sultan Abdülmecid, which has been inaccessible to anyone but the official for 165 years, has been opened to visitors for the first time in its history, with the partial completion of the restoration in Topkapı Palace in Istanbul.

Fatih Mansion, Seferli Ward, Treasury Ward in the complex of the place were kept closed since 2014.