TOPKAPI PALACE - Hagia Irene Church (Half Day Afternoon)

TOPKAPI PALACE The great palace of the Ottoman Sultans from the 15th to the 19th centuries, housing an exquisite collection of precious gems, jewellery thrones of sultans, costumes worn by the sultans and their families; miniatures, the Holy Mantle; CHAMBER OF SACRED RELICS. (Harem is not included in the program and visit is due to extra entrance fee.) (Topkapı Palace closed on Tuesday) HAGIA IRENE CHURCH Built during the same period (4th century) as its neighbour the Hagia Sophia.The name Hagia Irene Church means ‘’Godly’’ or ‘’Holy Wisdom’’ in Greek. After the conquest of Istanbul it was incorporated into the grounds of Topkapı Palace and like many other churches was converted into a mosque. However there were no major changes made to the building’s structure. (Hagia Irene Church closed on Tuesday)