Istanbul – Topkapi Palace

Topkapi Palace was the Ottoman Empire center of power for hundreds of years. An amazing place that is not fully seen in the photos below. It was a cold and rainy day, so I inserted one photo that I found online to give a sense of the true beauty.

Overlooking the Bosphorus, the palace shouts "power and majesty" to all who see it from afar.
The interiors are dazzling with all the mosaics that cover every square inch.
Every significant room has a rotunda ceiling.
The Westmont students were great guides!
It was super cold, and we all wished these ornate fireplaces were lit!

Looking toward Istanbul from the Palace.