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The second courtyard housed the Palace
kitchens, harem, and served as the official entrance to the Palace where
State dignitaries were met and received.
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We took the guided tour through the
Harem, the secret backrooms where the Sultan's women plotted (and in some
cases ran the empire). The glint of gold leaf was everywhere, and the fantastic
artwork to be found on the walls and ceilings attested to the comfort of
life in this inner sanctum.
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The first courtyard housed the Sultan's
Janissaries - men who had been taken as slaves from throughout the Empire
and brought to Istanbul to train in the Sultan's service. The fourth
courtyard was added later in the Palace's history and served as a garden,
library, pool and gathering place for the Royal family.
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