SULTAN'S QUARTERS

The Topkapi has stunning interiors but it was the miles of tiles that blew me away. Tiles everywhere! On the ceiling, on the floors, inlaid into bookshelves and cabinets. Inside and outside. Such intricate designs are pretty hard to absorb, as detail and beauty is all round you in every space. I pointed my camera up, close, and down. I could pretty much dedicate a month to showcasing all the tiles in Turkey, with a week or two for just the Topkapi. But, somehow I don't think everyone would appreciate that!

The hues spanned the spectrum, from the richest cobalt and ultramarine to the palest cerulean. Since the Islamic religion forbids depicting fauna in Turkish Art, the patterns focus on abstract geometries and flora.