From the tallest tower in old Istanbul, your chance to see a sight that you do not see anywhere else, where seas and continents meet, Galata Tower, the watchful eye of (Istanbul)
Galata Tower in Istanbul… the icon of Istiklal Street
The tower, which preserved in each piece a story witnessed by the city, the protector of its walls, and the remaining witness to its history since ancient times
From it dreams of flying began, and inside of it prisoners dreamed of freedom
To stand tall, this tower overlooks the ancient spirit of Istanbul in its most prestigious place
Galata Tower, the watchful eye on the security of Constantinople (Istanbul).
The history of the construction of the Galata Tower has always been a mystery to historians, as there are two different accounts of this date. The first confirms that it was built in 507 AD during the reign of Austinianus, during the reign of the Genoese, within a fortress where it was built for observation and monitoring.
As for the second story, it says that the tower before us today is another tower that was built in 1348 AD, after the destruction of the old tower that was built with the castle in another place.
This tower bore many names for the number of empires that ruled the city.
Where it bore the name “Issa Tower” at the beginning and then the “Big Tower” during the era of Byzantium to settle on the name “Galata” in the end at the time of the Ottoman Empire.
Sultan Suleiman used the tower as a prison for the convicts after assuming power, and then turned into an observatory for the stars by astronomers during the era of Sultan Selim.
Perhaps one of the most prominent legends associated with this tower is that it is the starting point in the history of successful flight attempts in the modern era. The story says that Hazarfen Ahmed Shalabi chose a windy day to fly from it to the Uskudar area located on the other (Asian) side of the strait, using wings attached to his body. That was in 1638 AD.
The tower was first built without the bonnet that adorns it above today
Where it was added by order of Sultan Mahmud II in order to protect it from demolition and fires that affected it several times.
The entire length of the tower is 66.90 meters and consists of 9 floors. The first and second floors are reached by stairs. As for the upper floors, by means of the elevator, which was newly added to the tower in the late eighties after the last restoration process that was carried out for the tower.
The last floor is also used as a restaurant for tourists and visitors.
Galata Tower is located in the Galata neighborhood, from which it derives its name, at the end of the famous Istiklal Street, also overlooking the most important and most beautiful landmarks in Istanbul, namely the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn.
Where from his balcony on the last floor, you can see the city, with its European and Asian parts, within a wonderful panoramic panel.
And because the tower is located in the neighborhood that does not sleep in Istanbul, you can see it from the outside whenever you want, but the doors of the tower close at 8 pm.
From the top of the old Istanbul towers “Galata Tower” is your chance to see a sight that you do not see anywhere else
Where seas and continents meet
