Galata Tower

Galata Tower was built by the Genoese in the middle of the 14th century, as part of the walls of Galata. At the time, the Galata district was a Genoese colony, during the Byzantine Empire. After being used as a dungeon for some time during the Ottoman period, it was turned into a fire surveillance tower. During the Ottoman era, the tower was destroyed by earthquakes and fires then restored several times. The tower was in a pretty dilapidated state by the 1960s, when it was restored by the municipality of Istanbul and opened to the public.

There is a story about Hezarfen Ahmed Çelebi, who was a famous Turkish scholar. In 1632, he jumped from the Galata Tower, in a contraption he had built in the form of an artificial bird. Carried by the south-westerly wind, he is said to have flown 3,358 meters, crossing the Bosphorus and reaching Dogancılar in Uskudar. With this flight experience, he went down in Turkish aviation history as the first person to fly.

The Galata Tower museum displays artifacts from all periods in Istanbul’s history. The city has been a human settlement since prehistoric times and has been the capital of three great empires for about sixteen centuries. Until the middle of the 20th century, the Galata Tower was one of the tallest buildings in Istanbul. It also offers one of the most beautiful panoramic views of Istanbul.

While you are here, you can go to Istiklal Avenue, experience the old tunnel, and visit the Galata Dervish Whirling Hall.