The Galata Tower – An Istanbul Tale

Galata Tower, one of Istanbul's icons, attracts many local and foreign tourists with its grandeur and mystery. If you haven't yet visited Galata Tower, a must-see for both locals and visitors to Istanbul, how about applying for a Turkey visa online with several visa options? TurkeyVisaOnline.com wrote the article The History of the Galata Tower / Where is the Galata Tower.

Where is the Galata Tower?

Bereketzade, Galata Tower, 34421 Beyo?lu is the address for Galata Tower. It is located in the Galata district, which is whence the tower gets its name. The Galata Tower now functions as a restaurant and viewing terrace. From here, you can get a beautiful view of Istanbul. With its stories and architecture, the tower is one of Istanbul's must-see sights. It is a great spot to get a bird's-eye view of the city. You may visit this location with ease and quickly by taking advantage of the one-hour turkey e visa online service.

Galata

The district was named after the tower, as previously stated. The history of the Galata district goes back further than you would think. The town utilised during the Roman time was known for its mythical beauty. IN THE FOURTH CENTURY, Constantine I, a Roman emperor, even wanted to be buried at Galata after his death. On the other hand, a Genoese colony was constructed in Galata in the 13th century, and the Genoese resided there. Mountains surrounded Galata and its surroundings. Galata was even designated as an independent region at one point. Venetians came to trade here as well, thanks to the ports.

Galata's significance continued after the Ottomans took control of the city. The Venetians and Genoese were authorised to trade here by Mehmed the Conqueror. The Ottomans did not fully integrate Galata since it was a place with bars and non-Muslims at the time. Galata became a hub for banks and hotels over time. The last of the walls were destroyed in 1864 if you're curious about what happened to them.

History of the Galata Tower

The Romans built the tower, also known as the Christea Turris, in the year 507 following Christ's death. However, it was the Genoese that gave it its present appearance in the 14th century. The tower's primary purpose, which stands 70 metres tall and weighs 10,000 tonnes, was surveillance. In other words, it's an observation tower built to defend the region during the time. Because the Genoese built a catholic cross, it is known as Christea Turris. However, when the Ottomans conquered Istanbul in the 15th century, this cross was demolished. In the 16th century, the tower, which had previously been used for observation, was turned into a jail and an observatory. Murad III did not support the concept of an observatory; therefore, it was closed.

In the 18th century, the Galata Tower was reused for a new purpose. In Istanbul at the time, fires were a frequent thing. It was used as a watching tower to identify fires and respond swiftly, but it later burnt. After this fire, it was restored, but it caught fire again. It lost its roof due to severe wind in the 19th century. It regained its charm following new repair work.

Legends on the Galata Tower

Like many other structures across the world, the Galata Tower has been the topic of stories and mythology due to its grandeur and elegant construction. One of the earliest stories about the tower surrounds marriage. Let's start with the fact that this legend stretches back to the Romans. It's rather old. According to this legend, a lady and a man marry the first time they climb the tower together. There is, however, one situation that must be met for this marriage to take place. Both the woman and the man must be first-time visitors to the tower.

The love storey between the Maiden's Tower and Galata is another well-known tale. Galata and the Maiden's Tower were reported to be madly in love. Despite this, they were unable to reunite due to the distance between them and the water. This need became stronger by the day. Because of this yearning, the Galata Tower asked Hezarfen Ahmed elebi to deliver letters to the Maiden's Tower that it had collected over hundreds of years.

On the other hand, Ahmed Elebi chose to climb the tower and fly from the European to the Anatolian sides. Elebi, soaring through the skies, tossed the letters into the sea, where they were picked up by the wind and carried to the Maiden's Tower. After reading the letters, the Maiden's Tower became convinced of Galata's love and began to blossom. The Galata Tower realised that his love was returned as she grew more lovely. Both have survived for hundreds of years because of their love.

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