Galata Tower, which is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Istanbul today, has seen many wars, especially conquests, and survived countless disasters for hundreds of years. Let’s take a closer look at the information you will hear for the first time about the Galata Tower, which you may pass by it most of the time.
Today, Istanbul, one of the most important cities of the Republic of Turkey and Europe, In addition to being the capital of the Ottoman Empire for many years, As we have explained in our article here before, it has been a favorite of many different civilizations throughout history. Every civilization that set foot here has left a trace of itself. Galata Tower is one of the most important among them.
Galata Tower was built hundreds of years ago. It has seen countless wars, especially the conquest of Istanbul, survived many earthquakes and has been restored many times. Although it was built as a simple observation tower, it has been used for many different purposes throughout history. Istanbul’s most popular tourism venue, used as a museum today Let’s take a closer look at Galata Tower and let’s see some interesting details that you will hear for the first time.
Extraordinary information about Galata Tower, some of which you will hear for the first time:
- Galata Tower is actually an illegal building for its period.
- Without Fatih Sultan Mehmet, Galata Tower would have collapsed.
- It has been used for many different purposes throughout its history.
- Each time it was repaired, its architecture changed a little more.
- The inside of the Galata Tower is even more impressive than the outside.
- It is on the UNESCO Temporary World Heritage list.
- Galata Tower is an integral part of Turkish culture.
- Even the games have Galata Tower.
- Hezarfen Ahmed Çelebi jumped from the Galata Tower.
Galata Tower is actually an illegal building for its period:
The Galata Tower was built by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian in approximately 507 AD, as a shorter lighthouse than it is today. Genoese, who made an alliance with Byzantium in the 13th century, They established a colony in the Golden Horn region. The Galata Tower, located in this colony called Pera, was known as the Turris Sancte Crucis, that is, the Tower of the Holy Cross, because there was a cross at that time.
Although the Genoese had a colony in Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire, they were forbidden to use it as a war center. The Genoese did not mind this and They raised the Galata Tower and turned it into an observation tower without obtaining permission from the empire. Of course, not long after, a war broke out between the two states in the first half of the 14th century. After the agreement, Galata Tower and its surroundings were left under the control of the Genoese.
Without Fatih Sultan Mehmet, Galata Tower would have been destroyed:
On May 29, 1453, the Byzantine Empire collapsed, a new era began, and Constantinople fell into the hands of the Turks forever. With the conquest, the Genoese surrendered their colonies, consisting of the Galata Tower and its surroundings, to the Turks without any resistance. Of course, due to the right of the sword, some soldiers tried to destroy the Galata Tower because it was a center of Christianity.
Fortunately, at the head of the Turkish army was Fatih Sultan Mehmet, the world’s most successful commander and politician. Learning that the hill area of the Galata Tower was destroyed Fatih immediately issued an edict and stopped the destruction. The destroyed area was repaired and an Ottoman Flag was hung instead of the cross on the hill. In other words, if it were not for a man who respects history like Fatih, maybe there would not be a place called Galata Tower today.
It has been used for many different purposes throughout its history:
The Galata Tower, whose first purpose was to be used as a lighthouse, was used as an observation tower by the Genoese. It was a prison for prisoners of war in the 16th and 17th centuries. It began to serve as a fire tower in the 18th century. After the great fire in 1794, a coffee house was opened on the top of the tower. It became a fire tower again in the 19th century. After the 20th century, it became a tourist center. Galata Tower is one of the most popular tourism centers of Istanbul even today.
Its architecture changed a little more each time it was repaired:
The Galata Tower was shorter when it was first built, it became a taller tower when it was raised by the Genoese. After the big earthquake It was increased in height when it was repaired again in 1510, even these traces still stand on it. It underwent a series of repairs before being used as an observatory in the 17th century.
In the great Istanbul fire of 27 July 1794, the Galata Tower was badly damaged. It was shortened in length and renovated in a completely different architectural style. Overhangs and sofas were added during this period. After the fire of 1831 and the storm of 1875, it had to be repaired again. Although it was repaired many times later, it gained its present appearance during this period, not counting its roof.
The inside of the Galata Tower is even more impressive than the outside:
Galata Tower is an 11-storey building today. One of these floors is the basement, one is the ground floor, and one is the mezzanine. There are stone stairs attached to the body of the building. It is noteworthy that the ceiling is hexagonal in shape. On the walls of the third floor, there are chimneys resembling the Zağanos Pasha Tower. The southern walls of the Galata Tower were built thicker to withstand the attacks. The shapes of the windows are designed to be suitable for using balls. In other words, this structure is a kind of structure that will withstand attacks as well as its cultural characteristics.
It is on the UNESCO Temporary World Heritage list:
On 27 June 2013, Galata Tower was included in the UNESCO Temporary World Heritage list by the World Heritage Committee, by being included in the series titled Castle and Walled Settlements on the Genoese Trade Route from the Mediterranean to the Black Sea. Galata tower, using the video mapping method It is dressed in different colors to celebrate or raise awareness on every national holiday or important day.
Galata Tower is an integral part of Turkish culture:
In addition to its historical importance, the cultural value of the Galata Tower is indisputable. Ottoman divan poets such as Rezmi and Mustafa Âlî from Gallipoli they often talk about this structure. It is possible to see the Galata Tower in the works of modern Turkish poets such as Cemal Süreya, Sezai Karakoç, Ümit Yaşar Oğuzcan.
Armenian-born Ottoman painter Garabet Yazmacıyan He depicts the Galata Tower in many of his works. There are two different works of İbrahim Safi that he depicts the Galata Tower. In all TV series and movies set in Istanbul, we definitely come across the Galata Tower.
Even the games have Galata Tower:
If you have played Assassin’s Creed: Revelations, you must have climbed the Galata Tower with the main character. While playing Forge of Empires, you will see Galata Tower. Part of the story of the Byzantine: The Betrayal game takes place here again. It is also possible to encounter the depiction of Galata Tower in the Turkish-made Sabotage game.
Hezarfen Ahmed Çelebi jumped from the Galata Tower:
Considered one of the most important scholars of the 17th century Ottoman period. Even if most of what is told about Hezarfen Ahmed Çelebi is rumor, however, it is known that he did indeed try to fly. The most famous of these is the experiment he made with the Galata Tower. Jumping from the tower with a kind of flight mechanism, Hezârfen Ahmed Çelebi glided thousands of meters and landed safely in Üsküdar.
One of Istanbul’s most important tourism venues. We talked about the extraordinary information about the Galata Tower, some of which you have heard for the first time. We hope that all historical artifacts in our country are preserved in this way and will continue to be with us as the common heritage of humanity for hundreds of years.