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Galata Tower, Istanbul

Home → Istanbul, Turkey → Galata Tower, Istanbul

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The Galata Tower is a medieval stone tower in the Galata quarter of Istanbul, just to the north of the Golden Horn. One of the city’s most striking landmarks, it is a high, cone-capped cylinder that dominates the skyline and offers a panoramic vista of Old Istanbul or Constantinople and its environs.

The nine-story tower is 66.90 meters tall (62.59 m without the ornament on top, 51.65 m at the observation deck), and was the city’s tallest structure when it was built. The elevation at ground level is 35 meters above sea-level. The tower has an external diameter of 16.45 meters at the base, and 8.95 meters diameter inside, and walls that are 3.75 meters thick.There is a restaurant and café on its upper floors which command a magnificent view of Istanbul and the Bosphorus. Also located on the upper floors is a night club which hosts a Turkish show. There are two operating elevators that carry visitors from the lower level to the upper levels.

History

Galata Tower was built as Christea Turris (Tower of Christ) in 1348 during an expansion of the Genoese colony in Constantinople. The Galata Tower was the tallest building in Istanbul at 219½ feet (66.9 m) when it was built in 1348. It was the apex of the fortifications surrounding the Genoese citadel of Galata. The current tower should not be confused with the old Tower of Galata, an original Byzantine tower named Megalos Pyrgos (English: Great Tower) which controlled the northern end of the massive sea chain that closed the entrance to the Golden Horn. That tower was on a different site and was largely destroyed in 1203, during the Fourth Crusade of 1202–1204.

The upper section of the tower with the conical cap was slightly modified in several restorations during the Ottoman Empire when it was used as an observation tower for spotting fires.

According to the Seyahatname of Ottoman historian and traveller Evliya Çelebi, in circa 1630-1632, Hezarfen Ahmet Çelebi flew as an early intercontinental aviator using artificial wings for gliding from this tower over the Bosphorus to the slopes of Üsküdar on the Anatolian side, nearly six kilometres away. Evliyâ Çelebi also tells of Hezarfen’s brother, Lagari Hasan Çelebi, performing the first flight with a rocket in a conical cage filled with gunpowder in 1633.

Starting from 1717 the Ottomans began to use the tower for spotting fires in the city. In 1794, during the reign of Sultan Selim III, the roof of the tower made of lead and wood, and the stairs were severely damaged by a fire. Another fire damaged the building in 1831, upon which a new restoration work took place.

In 1875, during a storm, the conic roof on the top of the building was destroyed. The tower remained without this conic roof for the rest of the Ottoman period. Many years later, in 1965-1967, during the Turkish Republic, the original conical cap was restored. During this final restoration in the 1960s, the wooden interior of the tower was replaced by a concrete structure and it was commercialized and opened to the public.

From the top of the tower, the first French panorama painter Pierre Prévost drew in 1818 his “Panorama de Constantinople” which was later exposed in Paris in 1825.


Istanbul Travel Guide

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  • Hagia Sophia, Istanbul
  • Topkapi Palace, Istanbul
  • Grand Bazaar, Istanbul
  • Spice Bazaar, Istanbul
  • Galata Tower, Istanbul
  • Hippodrome, Istanbul
  • Church of the Holy Saviour in Chora
  • Dolmabahce Palace, Istanbul
  • Golden Horn
  • Istanbul Archaeology Museum
  • Underground Cistern, Istanbul
  • Suleymaniye Mosque Istanbul
  • Beylerbeyi Palace
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Rating: +8568 (from 8568 votes)
Galata Tower, Istanbul, 100% based on 8568 ratings
81 Reviews
  1. Linnea R
    8:16 pm on June 26, 2010

    We went on a sunny, clear day and had beautiful views of the city. We probably only spent about 20 minutes there, but it was worth it.

    Reply
  2. th Hilden
    6:00 pm on June 28, 2010

    Visit to Istanbul will never complete without visiting Galata Tower.

    Reply
  3. max r
    12:27 pm on July 28, 2010

    great from the ground. but the view over it is just amazing. one should visit it defininetly. one of the great view and atmosphere

    Reply
  4. simbad-us
    9:17 pm on July 30, 2010

    This is another one of those sites in Istanbul that is a Must See. Once you're at the top you'll be treated to an amazing view all the way around. The scenery is just absolutely breath-taking. I most definitely recommend it.

    Reply
  5. rivbom
    10:39 pm on August 1, 2010

    The Galata Tower provides the best view in Istanbul, of old Istanbul, more specifically, of the Golden Horn. It's not cheap and you have to queue for a while to get in and up (30mins+ in our case).

    Reply
  6. rohitrenjhen
    3:31 pm on November 22, 2010

    i suggest that this should be visited either early in the morning or around sunset to get the best views. Music lovers will enjoy the street which leads to the tower as this place is full of Music shops where one can pick a bargain or two. Really enjoyed the freshly made juice from the corner shop.

    Reply
  7. TheVeggieNomad
    8:42 pm on January 5, 2011

    Combine you visit with a walk across Galata bridge and the climb up the hill to the tower. The view is rewarding, you can grab some great pictures. Early morning is not so busy, so get moving in the morning to avoid crowds.

    Reply
  8. Bongbrummie
    10:58 pm on January 29, 2011

    Think the Galata Tower is worth a look , however I'm not 100% it's worth the entry fee.
    Worth checking out & the surrounding area up to Taksim square is worth exploring

    Reply
  9. Juliet K
    1:55 am on April 24, 2011

    We visited Galata Tower on our first day in Istanbul, as a way of getting oriented for our visit. Fortunately we visited on a gorgeous mid-afternoon day. There were people in line but not much of a wait. When we got to the top and went outside, however, there were plenty of people.

    Reply
  10. Ox-sims
    4:39 pm on April 26, 2011

    We visited the Galata tower due to the request of my teenage daughter and it was a good choice. The views over Istanbul were breathtaking and we have many incredible photos taken from this vantage point. There was no queuing for entry and the surrounding streets to the tower were pleasant, quaint and full of character. Well worth the visit.

    Reply
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