Galata Tower is one of the most famous sights of Istanbul (Turkey). From its height, a magnificent view of this ancient and interesting city opens. If you are planning a trip to Istanbul, be sure to include a visit to Galata in your itinerary! You can read about the history of the structure, as well as how to get here, in this article. You will also find out what impressions you have from tourists visiting this attraction.
Galata tower: photos, description
Galata was erected in the XIV century. Its height is 61 meters. In addition, it is located on a hill, so the structure rises above sea level by as much as 140 meters! Thanks to this, the Galata Tower can be seen from almost every district of Istanbul.
History
Galata Tower boasts a centuries-old history. So, historians believe that in its place the tower was erected in the 5th century AD. At that time, the ruler was the Byzantine emperor Justinian. But then the structure was wooden, therefore, could not exist for a long time. The Galata tower was erected on this site already from stone in 1348.
A century later, Byzantium was captured by the Turks. Accordingly, Galata passed into their possession. At different times, the tower performed a variety of functions: a lighthouse for merchant ships, a fire tower, an observatory, and even a prison.
Over the course of its long history, the building has been restored more than once. Recent large-scale work was carried out in 1967. Then the dome of the tower was rebuilt, elevators were erected. Also on one of the upper floors a restaurant was equipped. The diameter of the cone-shaped roof is almost 9 meters and the width of the walls is 3.75 m.
By the way, Galata is also known as Hezarfen. The flight of Turkish Icarus, famous throughout the world, is also connected with it. So, in the middle of the 17th century, a scientist named Khezarfen Ahmet Chelyabi was able to fly from the roof of the structure to the Asian coast of the Bosphorus Strait on a glider, which he personally constructed.
Viewpoint
Today, this building is popular due to its restaurant and night club, as well as, of course, an observation deck. In addition, on the top floor of the tower for an additional fee (about 5 euros) you can take a picture in a national Turkish costume. As for the restaurant, the prices here are not at all low. However, the view from the windows is definitely worth it to allow yourself to drink at least a cup of coffee or a glass of wine. By the way, experienced tourists recommend visiting this place in the late afternoon. There are not many visitors here at this time. There is also a souvenir shop on the ground floor of Galata. Here you can buy a variety of gizmos for memory.
As for the observation deck, the view from the Galata tower is truly amazing. So, you will see all of Istanbul in full view. In addition, Golden Horn Bay and the Sea of Marmara are clearly visible from here.
Galata Tower: how to get there
This attraction is located in the European part of the city in an area called Galata. As already mentioned, the tower is on a hill. It can be seen from almost every district of Istanbul, so you will not go wrong in the direction. There are several ways to get to the Galata tower:
- You can get to the Karakoy stop by tram and then walk up the stairs towards Istiklal Street.
- If you are walking along Istiklal Street, then, reaching its end, you can turn right. You will be taken to the square, where the Galata tower is located.
- Having reached the Karakoy stop, you can use the Tunel metro station, and then take a little walk in the direction of the Golden Horn.
This attraction is open for visitors every day from nine in the morning until half past eight in the evening. In winter, the tower closes earlier. However, the restaurant is open until midnight. The cost of visiting the Galata observation deck is about 13 lire.
Attractions Travel Reviews
If you belong to the category of tourists who are interested in finding out the impressions of other people who have visited this or that place, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the generalized comments of our compatriots who, during their trip to Istanbul, included the Galata Tower and the route.
In general, most travelers were very pleased with the fact that they were able to visit Galata. According to them, the guides do not deceive, and from the observation deck really offers a stunning view of the whole of Istanbul. However, it is better to come here in clear weather, then the panorama will be especially magnificent. Tourists also pay attention that the path to the Galata tower may not be very simple. Since you have to climb the hill. In the heat, this can be quite difficult. In addition, you should be prepared for some expectation, since the observation deck itself is small, and there are many people who want to visit it. However, according to most of our compatriots, the Galata tower is worth a visit.