Sultan Ahmed III Fountain

The Fountain of Sultan Ahmed III, completed in 1728, stands directly in front of the Imperial Gate of Topkapi Palace and is regarded as the masterpiece of Ottoman Rococo, blending borrowings from Versailles with traditional Islamic fountain forms. Its cubic marble structure is covered in floral relief, gilding and calligraphy, including a poem in the sultan's own hand urging drinkers to appreciate the gift of water. Four spouts on the sides served passers-by, while in the past sebil booths at the corners distributed sherbet and lemonade to pilgrims. The fountain dates from the Tulip Period (Lale Devri), an era of cosmopolitan refinement at the Ottoman court. Today tourists pause to photograph it while walking between Hagia Sophia and Topkapi.