Topkapi Palace · The Sound of Water in the Harem

Topkapi Palace was the residence of the Ottoman sultans for nearly four hundred years. The corridors of the harem are narrow and winding, the rooms are faced with blue tiles, and the windows hold coloured glass.

The story most often told about the palace is that at night the sound of the water basins and the low voices of women can be heard. People thrown into the Bosphorus are said to have walked these corridors too.

Several parts of the palace are closed to visitors. The attendants say only that repairs are under way, and nothing more.

Historical Mysteries / Istanbul · Türkiye / 1478