Discover Istanbul's treasures from the Ottoman Empire, beginning at the magnificent Topkapi Palace, the principle residence of the empire's sultans for 4 centuries. The palace is now a museum, hosting extravagant gifts from other leaders of the epoch, including the priceless Spoonmaker's Diamond; the third largest in the world. The Topkapi Museum also boasts an impressive collection of early Chinese ceramics. Here, you can see ceramics that have a special glaze that was said to change color in the presence of poison. Visit the Imperial Treasury housed within the palace, and check out Baghdad Kiosk. Stroll through the ground's glorious courtyards. See the Imperial Treasury's remarkable ancient trees where many are hollow, some are fused together, but all survive. Then see centuries of Ottoman weaponry at the Imperial Armory. The Blue Mosque is an iconic monument in both the Turkish and Islamic worlds. The stunning structure was built in the classical Ottoman style, and features 6 towering minarets and 260 windows that provide illumination for its vast inner chamber that is lined with more than 20,000 Iznik tiles.