Galata Tower
Galata Tower is one of the notable stops in Istanbul, with a route-friendly location for your trip.
Quick facts
- Built
- 1349
- Architectural style
- Romanesque architecture
- Height
- 62.6 m
- Area
- 208 m²
- Elevation
- 35 m
- Material
- stone
Facts from Wikidata, photos from Wikimedia Commons.
Did you know?
Why was the tower built?
The present tower was built by the Genoese in 1348 as the highest point of the walls enclosing their Galata colony, and was called the Tower of Christ. Built for defence, it later served as a prison, an observatory and a fire watchtower.
Did Hezârfen Ahmed Çelebi really fly from here?
According to Evliya Çelebi, in the 17th century Hezârfen Ahmed Çelebi fixed wings to himself, leapt from the tower, crossed the Bosphorus and landed in Üsküdar. That account is the sole source and no verified record exists, but the story has become part of the tower's identity.
Is the tower's conical roof original?
No. The present cone was added during 1960s restoration; in the Ottoman period the tower had a flat terrace and different tops at different times. Its most familiar silhouette is in fact its newest part.
Why go?
- Easy to add to your route
- Good photo stop
- Popular local highlight
