Considered the oldest and grandest surviving structure in the Imperial Harem, this chamber was commissioned by Sultan Murad III and built by the legendary architect Mimar Sinan in 1579. For centuries, it served as the Sultan’s most private apartment and official reception hall, a space where the empire’s fate was often decided in intimate settings.
The interior is a breathtaking symphony of 16th-century classical Ottoman art. Its monumental dome, symbolizing the eternity of the Sultanate, rests above walls covered in a sea of exquisite Iznik tiles, their coral-red hues defining the era. A calligraphic band of Quranic verses in white on a deep blue background encircles the room, while the dome itself is adorned with intricate plasterwork. The chamber’s grand fireplace, mother-of-pearl inlaid cabinets, and elegant fountain represent the zenith of Ottoman aesthetic refinement, making it a true masterpiece of imperial architecture.