To the north of the Golden Horn in Istanbul there is a stone tower in the style of Roman architecture called Galata or Christ Tower, which is a destination for many tourists. The score given to this tower by tourists on the tripadvisor site is 4.5 out of 5, which means that whether you live in Turkey or are a tourist, you must visit this tower. Galata is one of the prominent landmarks of Istanbul. In the following text, you will know the reason for attracting so many tourists to Galata Tower.
Galata Tower Features
The tower dates back to before the fall of Constantinople by the Ottoman Empire and the end of the Eastern Roman Empire (1348). The height of this nine-story tower is about 67 meters considering the cap and high decorations. In order for the tower to remain stable for centuries at the time of construction, the diameter of the outer walls has been considered to be about 3.75 meters. This old building has been repeatedly attacked and eroded naturally and has been rebuilt. Galata was built on a hill to have a better view of the surroundings. The tower was built for military and surveillance purposes in the Bosphorus. According to history, Galata was a secret prison for a long time and then an observatory. According to Turkish legend, a scientist made a bird and jumped from the top of the tower and landed safely. He was later deported; Because they believed that such a brave man who was not afraid of anything could be dangerous to the Ottomans. In recent years, an elevator has been added during the renovation. From the top of the Hagia Sophia, the Marble Sea, Topkapi Palace and the Bosphorus can be clearly seen. In a matter of hours, seagulls fly over the tower, creating an interesting scene. Prepare your mobile camera to take an attractive selfie.
What's up around Galata?
In fact, the reason for attracting tourists to this tower is not only the tower building itself. The sea has embraced Istanbul, and people have built bridges over waterways and straits to connect different parts of the city. One of these old stairs is the Galata Bridge near the Galata Tower. A bridge that if you are in love or you want to watch the fishermen and their patience, you should spend some time on it. There is a lot of talk about this bridge in Turkish romantic literature. On this bridge, one eye is on Europe and the other is on Asia. Cheap and delicious street food can be found on this bridge.
In the golden horn there is a magical moment of sunset when the sun sprays its protons on the sea for a few minutes and the whole Sea of Marmara looks golden. If you are wondering why this part is called the Golden Horn, you should know that this beautiful bay is seen from above in the shape of a bull horn. From the top of the Galata Tower, the Galata Metal Bridge is well visible. There are juice shops in the streets around Galata that you should try. The walls and shutters of the shops are full of graffiti and paintings. One of the most famous graffiti that tourists usually take pictures of is a text called Make art not war. In addition, around the tower you can see street artists playing.
How and when to go to Galata?
Galata is located in the Beyoglu district of Istanbul (European part), which is one of the busiest and busiest parts of the city. In the heart of Istanbul, go to the end of Esteghlal Street and enter Gallip to reach the tower. If you take the subway, take the M2 line (green line), get off at Shishaneh station.
The best time to go to Galata is when the sun is slowly saying goodbye to the sky. A 360-degree view of Istanbul's night is enjoyed by those who go to the top floor of the tower at this time and have a cup of tea or coffee or perhaps a delicious dinner in the Galata Café and Restaurant. This is not a luxury restaurant, but it is a bit more expensive than restaurants in the area.
If you do not like crowds, we recommend going to Galata in the morning or at noon. The tower welcomes you from 9 am. Saturdays and Sundays are the busiest time in Galata. At night, the queue to visit the tower balcony is very long.