Istanbul Palace Museum
is inspired by Topkapı Palace, Istanbul, Istanbul
Inspired by a real place
Real-world photo: Wikimedia Commons
How close does the game get to the real place?
In the game
The palace museum on the Bosphorus that Drake, Flynn and Chloe break into at night in the chapter Breaking and Entering, to steal an oil lamp holding a clue to Marco Polo's lost fleet. Its lead domes and tiled towers, and the multiplayer map set there, are based on Topkapı Palace.
The real place
Topkapı Palace was the main residence of the Ottoman sultans for almost 400 years, from the 15th century. It stands on Seraglio Point, where the Bosphorus, the Golden Horn and the Sea of Marmara meet, and has been a museum since 1924. Its Treasury holds the Topkapı Dagger and the Spoonmaker's Diamond.
Visiting
The palace is closed on Tuesdays. Buy the ticket that includes the Harem, the most richly decorated part of the palace, and go to the Treasury first thing in the morning, before the tour groups arrive.
Topkapı Palace is also in Assassin's Creed Revelations. See all 2 games side by side
More from games in Istanbul: 23 real places on one map
Pilgrim photos
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