Galata Tower -Life Ledge

Galata Tower, the symbol of Istanbul, fascinates with its history and legends. This magnificent structure, which has survived from Byzantium to the present day, reflects the texture and love of the city. It offers an unforgettable experience with its unique view and rich history.

1. The Galata Tower is a landmark built during the Byzantine period.
2. The tower is one of the most solid structures in Istanbul and was built of masonry stone by the Genoese in 1348.
3. According to legends, the Galata Tower and the Maiden’s Tower are known as two structures in love.
4. The story of Hezarfen Ahmet Çelebi adds to the romantic legend of the tower.
5. Its architecture reflects Roman and Ottoman influences and historical periods.
6. The tower played an important role in the history of Istanbul and was also used as a fire watch tower.
7. The area around the Galata Tower has a rich commercial and cultural history.
8. In the 20th century, it underwent a significant restoration and gained its present appearance.
9. Its name comes from the milk trade in the Byzantine period.
10. Galata Tower, one of the symbols of Istanbul, offers unforgettable views to visitors.

Let’s examine this magnificent structure together.

Built in 528 by Byzantine Emperor Anastasius Oilosuz from wood as a lighthouse tower, the Galata Tower is now 69.90 meters long and its outer diameter is 16.45 meters. With a wall thickness of 3.45 meters and a weight of approximately 10,000 tons, the tower is one of the most solid structures in Istanbul.

Let’s examine this structure, which has inspired and been the subject of many poems and songs.

The Legend of Galata Tower

One of the legends, which is based on Roman traditions, is that the first person to ascend the tower would marry the first person.

According to another legend, Galata Tower fell in love with the Maiden’s Towerat first sight. The towers, which could never meet, were in love but longed for each other. The graceful Maiden’s Tower and the mighty Galata could not understand whether their feelings were mutual or not.

Hezarfen came to the aid of the two towers in love. As the Galata Tower ascended Galata to glide from the European side to Anatolia, it whispered its love in the ear of Hezarfen Ahmet Çelebiand asked him to deliver the poems it had written.

Hezarfen could not remain indifferent to Galata’s request and left the letters in his hand towards the Maiden’s Tower. Realizing that his love was mutual, the Maiden’s Tower became more and more beautiful after receiving the letters. Looking at her, Galata felt for the first time that her love was not one-sided and sent her overflowing love to all four corners in the hope that it would reach the Maiden’s Tower.

Architectural Structure of the Tower

The Galata Tower, which comes from the Roman architectural tradition, was built in a masonry rubble stone knitting system. The exterior is stone masonry. It is a nine-storey building after the high ground floor. The windows on the cylindrical body have brick-built round arches. The development of the last two floors just below the cone roof is emphasized with profiled moldings surrounding the cylindrical body. There is an observation balcony with a metal ornamented network surrounding the floor below the cone roof. On the lower floor, there are round arches resting on pillars with deep niches and round arched windows with brickwork.

It is observed that the part of the building up to the third floor is Genoese and the other floors are Ottoman in character. During the reign of Mahmut II, two more floors were added to the tower and the top of the tower was covered with the famous cone-shaped roof covering. During the reconstruction works in 1864, the courtyard at the foot, the gates, the city walls descending to the shore were lost and the ditches opened for defense were filled. The Turkish cemetery extending from the base of the tower to Tepebaşı on one side and Tophane on the other was destroyed. Instead of the old wooden Turkish houses, western-style apartment buildings were built.

History of Galata Tower

After 528, the Galata Tower, like many other wooden structures, suffered major fires over time and was finally built of masonry stone by the Genoese in 1348.

The Galata Tower was raised between 1445-1446. Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror attached importance to the settlement of the city as much as its construction. He welcomed the people of the region, who tried to remain as neutral as possible during the siege, and gave them freedom in their commercial endeavors. This freedom caused other Italians to flock to Galata. Galata turned into a commercial center and became one of the places where money flowed into the Ottoman treasury.

With the permission of Sultan Murat III, an observatory was established here by the astronomer Takiyüddin, but this observatory was closed in 1579.

In the first half of the 17th century, during the reign of Sultan Murat IV, Hezarfen Ahmet Çelebi, after watching the winds and practicing flight in Okmeydanı, put eagle wings made of wood on his back and flew from the Galata Tower to Üsküdar-Doğancılar in 1638.

From 1717 onwards, the tower was used as a fire watch tower. A fire was signaled by beating a large drum. During the reign of Selim III, a large part of the tower burned down in a fire. After the tower was repaired, a bay window was added to the upper floor of the tower. The repaired tower was damaged again in another fire in 1831 and was repaired.

The writer Edmondo de Amicis, who visited Galata Tower and its surroundings in the 19th century, described Galata with the following words: “If you don’t see people in fez and turban here, you cannot believe that you are in the Orient. French, Italian and Genoese languages are spoken everywhere.”

The last renovation, which started in 1965 and finished in 1967, gave the tower its present appearance.

Name Origin of the Tower

Galata Tower has been known by many names in the past. The tower was known as Megalos Pyrgos (Great Bastion) by the Byzantines and Christtea Turris (Christ Tower ) by the Genoese.

It is thought that the current name is derived from the word “Gala“, which means “Milk” in Greek due to the fact that the livelihood of the region was dairy farming during the Byzantine period.

My Thoughts

The tower’s timeless character and the way it evokes feelings of love and integrity in its structure and its surroundings that will last for centuries to come is one of the best things it has ever done. To be able to observe Istanbul 360 degrees from the highest floor and to enjoy the Bosphorus away from people and chaos is not a beauty that any other building can provide with comfort. Moreover, while doing all this, being able to taste the best dishes of Istanbul and Turkish culture in the restaurant inside has raised the bar to an unattainable height.

1. When was the Galata Tower built?
   • Galata Tower was first built in 528 during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Anastasius. In 1348, it was rebuilt by the Genoese using masonry stone.
2. What material is it made of?
   • Galata Tower was built in wood by Byzantine Emperor Anastasius at the time of its construction. However, it was rebuilt in 1348 by the Genoese using masonry stone.
3. What are the legends of the Galata Tower?
   • One of the legends of the Galata Tower is its love story with the Maiden’s Tower. According to another legend, Hezarfen Ahmet Çelebi played a role.
4. What is the architectural structure of the tower?
   • Galata Tower, which has Roman and Ottoman architectural features, is a nine-story building after the high ground floor. Its facade is stone masonry and has a cylindrical body.
5. What are the events that Galata Tower has experienced throughout its history?
   • The tower was used as a fire watch tower, suffered many fires and was repaired in various periods.
6. For what purposes was the tower used?
   • Throughout its history it was used as a watchtower, observatory and fire watchtower.
7. What kind of activities are there around the Galata Tower?
   • The area around Galata Tower is home to the Galata district, which is rich in history and culture. There are restaurants, cafes and historical sites.
8. How can I reach Galata Tower?
   • Located in the Galata district of Istanbul, the tower can be reached on foot or by public transportation. There are also parking lots in the immediate vicinity.
9. Where does the name of the Galata Tower come from?
   • The tower got its name, derived from the word “Gala”, because the region was famous for milk trade during the Byzantine period.
10. What are the visiting hours and ticket prices for Galata Tower?
    • The Galata Tower is usually open to visitors at certain times of the day, and ticket prices and visiting hours can be found on the local administration or official websites.

What do you think about the tower and this structure, which is at the forefront of the structures that form the perception of a city and is an integral part of the Istanbul silhouette? Do you think this is a place that makes Istanbul Istanbul? Is there anything missing or wrong with it? If you haven’t checked it out yet, you can also read our review of the Solís Theater, a landmark of the city of Montevideo.

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Architect: Byzantine Emperor Anastasius
Year: 528
Place: Istanbul, Turkey