The Tiled Pavilion
This is actually within the boundaries of the first court although today it is situated behind the Museum of archeologyin the museum court. Also known as the 'Sirça Saray' -glazed palace, it was built by Mehmet II in 1472. Both the architecture and the decoration of the bulding are within a Central Asian Turkish tradition. In 1590, during the reign of Murat III, a fountain and pool were added to one of the rooms in the pavilion. The first museum was founded here in 1875. The pavilion is two-storeyed, with acentral domed hall and four axial bays,withrooms opening into the corners of the hall. The plan is idantial to one also found in Turkish houses. Imposing inscriptions in faience decorate the facade of the bulding, which is now a pottery and tile museum with a collection of Çanakkale ware.