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ISTANBUL'S CASTLES, TOWERS AND COLUMNS |
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Anadoluhisari (Anatolian
Fortress)
A 14th century relic of the Ottoman's first
attempt to conquer Istanbul, Anatolia
Fortress is located on the Asian shore at
the narrowest point of the Bosphorus.
Sultan Yildirim Bayezit built this fortress
in 1393 on the ruins of a Byzantine temple
dedicated to Zeus. It's much smaller in size
when you compare with Rumelihisar on the
European side of Istanbul.
Rumelihisari (Rumeli Fortress)
Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror built Rumeli
Fortress in four months only and directly
opposite to Anadoluhisari in 1452 in
preparation for the final attack on
Constantinople (Istanbul), which led to the
downfall of the Byzantine Empire. Today, the
fortress hosts many concerts and dramatic
performances in its amphitheatre usually
during the summer months. The fort is open
to the public as a museum as well (except on
Mondays).
Galata Kulesi (Galata Tower)
A 55 meter tower providing a panoramic view
of the old town, Galata Kulesi was built by
the Genoese as part of the wall surrounding
their district of Galata directly opposite
Byzantium.
It was used for the surveillance of the
Harbor in the Golden Horn. After the
conquest of Constantinople by Mehmet II it
served to detect fires in the city. The
tower now houses a restaurant and a night
club.
Kiz Kulesi (Leander's Tower - Maiden Tower)
A 12th century stone tower erected on a rock
at the entrance of the Bosphorus by
Byzantine Emperor Manuel Komnenos. This
tower, which has served as a prison and a
lighthouse, became the source of many
legends in ancient days. It's now open to
the public as a cafeteria & elegant
restaurant which hosts concerts and meetings
as well. Transportation to the Tower is made
by private shuttle boats from both shores of
the Bosphorus.
Yedikule Hisari (Seven Towers dungeons)
This seven towered fortress was built in the
time of Sultan Fatih Mehmet to protect the
treasury. In Murat III's reign, the treasury
protected at Yedikule was relocated to the
Topkapi Palace and Yedikule began to be used
as a dungeon.
The place of imprisonment of many foreign
ambassadors and Ottoman statesman, as well
as a place of execution for some, the
fortress was last used as a prison in 1831.
It than became a dwelling for the lions of
Topkapi Palace, and later gunpowder
manufacturing place. Today the fortress is a
museum, also hosting open air concerts in
its inner courtyard during the summer months.
Beyazit Kulesi (Fire Tower)
It was built by architect Senekerim Kalfa of
the Balyan family in 1828 under the reign of
Mahmud II. The tower is 85 meters in height
and has four floors, 180 steps staircase to
the top.
It was built over the Golden Horn to detect
fires in Istanbul, baskets during the day
and large red, green and white lanterns in
the evenings were hung on the tower to
indicate that there was a fire in the city.
It's still used for the same purpose today.
Unfortunately it's close to the public at
the moment, and stands in the grounds of
University of Istanbul.
Dikilitas (The Obelisk)
It was originally erected in the 16th
century B.C. by the Pharaon Tutmois III in
honor of the God of Sun Amon Ra in the city
of Teb, Egypt, in front of the temple of
Luxor. Brought to Istanbul by emperor
Theodosius I in 390 A.D. for the decoration
of the ancient Hippodrome. The approximately
19 meter high obelisk is covered on all four
sides with hieroglyphic pictograms and
stands on a marble base with many friezes
depicting the Emperor and his family in the
Hippodrome.
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