Galata Tower, one of the magnificent historical and touristic towers of Istanbul. Here is a short brief about it for you. Don’t forget. When you come to Istanbul, you can see the tower with our daily Istanbul tours.
Galata Tower, a Genoese Building in Istanbul
Galata Tower, one of the magnificent historical and touristic towers of Istanbul. Here is a short brief about it for you. Don’t forget. When you come to Istanbul, you can see the tower with our daily Istanbul tours.
The Galata Tower was built in the fourteenth century by the Genoese who had part-independence from the Byzantines. The tower was a piece of their fortification. The Genoese were involving in a trade with the Byzantines and the Galata tower was operated for the observation of the Harbor in the Golden Horn.
Galata Tower Istanbul
The Galata Tower is one of the oldest and highest towers in Istanbul. 206 feet (63 meters) high tower makes a panoramic view of the old city. The tower was used as a fire tower and prison during the Ottoman era. The 9-story tower is 66.90 meters tall and was the city’s highest building when it was built. The altitude at ground level is thirty-five meters high sea-level.
According to Evliya Çelebi, Hezarfen Ahmet Çelebi who Ottoman historian and traveler, flew as an early airman/aviator using spurious wings from the tower to Üsküdar. The Sultan at the time at first thought of awarding him then switched his mind and sent him to exile in Algeria.
At the Republic period, the tower was renovated and launched to the public in 1967. The tower has got a cafeteria on top. A couple of lifts will take you up but there are still 3 more floors to walk out by stairs to get on the panoramic terrace which is fifty-two meters high the ground.
Today the observatory deck contains a 360 degrees view of the town, from here people can watch the monuments that sit on the 7 hills of historical peninsula. Constantinople was built on the 7 hills of the historic peninsula like Rome.
