We will visit the most interesting part of the Palace, which is Harem Section. The Topkapi Palace Harem is undoubtedly the most opulent part of the palace. A world of lavishly decorated marble hallways, arched doorways, and over 400 rooms. Read on to get an idea of the lavish lifestyle that was led by the Ottoman Sultans in the Harem. The Harem, build at the end of the 16th century, was a labyrinth consisting of around 300 magnificently tiled rooms, connected by courtyards and fountain gardens. Since Islam forbade enslaving Muslims, the majority of the harem women were Christians or Jews, mostly received as gifts from potentates and nobles. Especially girls from Circassia, the area now known as Georgia and Armenia, were favored for their dazzling beauty. After entering the Harem, the girls were schooled in and converted to Islam and received proper palace training: they were taught how to write, read, play an instrument, sing, dance and provide pleasure to the sultan.