Great Sacred Palace
The Great Sacred Palace is the official residence of the Mesogeian monarch, located in the Alexandropolis, the nation's capital. The Great Sacred palace is a large imperial complex located in the center of the old city of Alexandropolis. The palace complex consists of three separate palaces, the Daphne Palace, Triconchos Palace, and Boukoleon Palace, and contains over 900 separate buildings, four courtyards, gardens, a zoo, spread over 72 hectares (180 acres), c
The palace originated in the 4th century AD and has been built and rebuilt over the last thousand years with each successive emperor adding their own constructions to the palace complex.
History
Imperial Gate
The Imperial gate known as the Chalke gate is the main entrance into the Imperial palace with it serving as the point of entry to the First Courtyard. The Imperial Gate's name Chalke comes from the bronze tiles that were used on its roof. Currently the gate's interior is decorated with marble and mosaics. An icon of Christ was once suspended from the gate's roof, but it was removed during the Iconoclasm period in the medieval age.
Daphne Palace
The Daphne Palace is the largest and oldest section of the imperial palace complex having sections going back all the way to the 4th century AD.
First Courtyard
The First Courtyard of the Daphne Imperial palace, commonly called the Parade court is surrounded by high walls is the largest palace courtyard, and serves a ceremonial function during official receptions because during the traditional triumph ceremony court officials and the palace guards line up here in their parade dress. Because the barracks of the Scholai are located on the grounds the Courtyard is often referred to as the court of the Scholai
Second Courtyard
The Second Courtyard is accessed through the Gate of Salutatio. The Gate of Salutatio is flanked by two large, pointed octagonal towers which once served as guardhouses. The Second Courtyard or Concilium Square is surrounded by the palace hospital, bakery, palace kitchens, barracks of the Candidati, stables, the Covered Hippdrome, the Imperial Gynaikeion, the Outer Treasury, the Public Audience Chamber, and the Chrysotriklinos (the golden reception hall).
The Second courtyard is used as a gathering place for the palace courtiers
Third Courtyard
The Gate of Charites, known as the Gate of Grace is the entrance into the inner Courtyard, known as the Third Courtyard. The name of the gate comes from all those passing through its gates needing the Emperor's permission to pass within it.
The Third Courtyard known as the Inner Court, commonly called the heart of the palace features lush gardens, the private residence of the imperial family, and is surrounded by the Inner Audience Chamber, the Accubita, the Inner Treasury, Miniature and Portrait Gallery, Imperial Privy Library, Dormitory of the Imperial Page, quarters of the Eunuchs, the Gynaikeion, the Church of the Virgin of the Pharos.
One of the oldest surviving sections of the palace is the Octagon, the Imperial State bedchamber, the most exclusive section of the Imperial parade apartments. A passage of the Imperial Parade Apartments leads directly to the imperial box (kathisma) in the Hippodrome.
Fourth Courtyard
The Fourth Courtyard is the innermost private arena of the Emperor and his family, consisting of gardens, pavilions, kiosks, and terraces. This section of the palace also contains a the Tzykanisterion, a polo field.
Triconchos Palace
The Triconchos is the second oldest section of the palace dating back to the early middle ages. Aside from the more modern Boukoleon Palace, the palace is the most public section of the palace, consisting of several wings including Augusta wing, Caesar Wing, the Imperial Chancellery Wing, Imperial Court Library, Festi Wing, Augustus wing, and the Hormisdas Palace as well as the Hormisdas wing consisting of the Hormisdas monastery, the Hormisdas Church, as well as the Hormisdas Palace which serves as the Imperial Museum.
It also contains the Imperial Riding school, the lavishly decorated Nea Ekklesia
The Festi wing sits on the site of a former opera-house complex that was demolished in the 17th century to make way for an expanded imperial palace. The Festi wing as it is known serves as the site of major venues hosted by the court. It includes the Imperial Court Theatre, the large reception hall known as the Festi hall, and a concert hall for the playing of imperial operas.
Boukoleon Palace
Facing the sea the Boukoleon palace is the most modern section of the palace. Starting in the 16th century, the Boukoleon gradually became the most inhabited section of the palace with the Emperor's actual bedchamber and apartments being in the private area of the palace. The Boukoleon palace is connected to the Daphne palace by way of the Hall of Constantine, the palace complex's largest throne hall.
The palace contains over a thousand rooms including the lavishly expansive state apartments, the private apartments of the emperor and his family. The state apartments of the Boukoleon Palace include, the Music Hall, the Michael Hall, and the Porcelain Antechamber, the Small Throne room, the Armorial Hall, War Gallery, Hall of Constantine, as well as the Grand Chapel.
The Palace's private apartments includes separate apartments for the Emperor, Empress, the Despot, Despotissa, and various other members of the Imperial family. The private apartments in the Boukoleon also contains a private dining room, gothic style library, and the Emperor's personal study, not to be confused with his official office located in the Caesar Wing of the Triconchos palace.