One of many iconic structures on the Istanbul, Turkey skyline, Galata Tower also offers a rich, historical narrative. The original tower built on this location by the Byzantine Empire was destroyed in warfare by Christian Crusaders. This iteration of the tower, however, was reconstructed by Genoese merchants who colonized the area in the 1300s.
Originally called the Tower of Christ, it loomed over Constantinople and the Eastern Roman Empire until it fell to the Ottomans. Offering stellar views of the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn, the Tower was a strategic asset used as a fire watchtower for centuries.
Nowadays, Galata Tower is a popular Istanbul tourist attraction. Tours of the Tower allow visitors to climb its many steps for panoramic views of Turkey's largest city. It also features a restaurant and nightclub, detracting somewhat from its historical aura.
200 feet high, and set now in a rather congested area, it can be difficult to photograph the entire Tower. Cafes, restaurants, shops, and apartments surround the Tower, which is near the busy Karakoy shopping area.
As I've detailed in some of my other Istanbul posts, information markers provide interesting descriptions of tourist areas in Istanbul. This one taken of the Arabic version side describes the history of Galata Tower.
Since I was staying at the Hotel Sultania in the Fatih district, Galata Tower was an easy, 25 minutes walk from my hotel. Traversing the popular Galata Bridge, one must navigate the hordes of fisherman, locals, and tourists lining this low bridge over the Bosphorus. Fortunately, the pedestrian area is walled off from the intense traffic that crosses the many bridges of Istanbul.
Either side of the Galata Bridge offers fantastic views of this ancient city, including the Galata Tower. It is a steep climb up narrow streets to reach the Galata Tower in Istanbul, Turkey, but one most certainly worth the effort.
Cheers!
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