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plore the palace at our leisure at the tour’s yards, each with its own architectural style
end, which we did. There was no applause and each centered on broad tree-shaded
and few tips for the guide, who would be lawns bisected by wide walkways. Public cer-
penniless if he led free tours. At least the emonies were confined to the first courtyard.
palace didn’t disappoint and we learned as The second abutted the palace’s administra-
much or more from the English signage on tive areas, including military barracks. The
the exhibits as we did from the tour.. third, and most private, was the Harem,
Built on an imposing hill overlooking the home to the sultan and his many wives and
Bosphorus, Topkapi has four main court- children. The last courtyard is the Sacred
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