Tuesday 22 June 2010

The Gate of Felicity




I was quite chuffed to discover that the entrance to the Inner Court at the Topkapi Palace (the residence of the Ottoman Sultans from 1465 to 1856) is known as the Gate of Felicity. It was probably constructed in the 15th century under Mehmed II, and was redecorated in the rococo style in 1774 under Sultan Mustafa III. Qur'anic verses are inscribed above the entrance.

I didn't know it was called the Gate of Felicity until I got back to London and looked it up, but I took quite a few pictures of it because I thought it was beautiful, and because I was surprised by the style of it; it seemed quite French / European.

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