The History of Galata Tower

Galata Tower is one of the landmarks of Istanbul. The history of this marvelous building, which adorns the silhouette of the city, dates back to ancient times. Now, let's take a look at this glorious history together.

Galata Tower is one of the world's oldest structures. It was erected as a lighthouse tower by the Byzantine emperor Anastasius in 528. After being severely damaged in 1204, the Genoese reconstructed the tower by using masonry stones in 1348, naming it "Jesus Tower". Its renovation was completed in 1348, and it became the city's largest structure.

The Galata Tower was constructed between 1445 and 1446 and then elevated again. The tower was restored and preserved every century after the Turks conquered it. In the 16th century, Christian prisoners of war who worked at the shipyards in Kasımpaşa stayed here.

An observatory was established here by the astrologer Takiyüddin on Murad III.'s order, but it was closed after a short time. During the reign of Murat IV, Hazarfen Ahmet Çelebi practiced flying in the arrow square, wearing eagle wings he had built out of wood, and jumping from the Galata tower in 1638. This flight drew a lot of interest all around the world.

In 1717, Galata Tower was utilized as a fire observatory tower. However, most of the Galata Tower was destroyed by a fire that broke out during Selim III's rule. A fire in 1831 destroyed the tower, which had been renovated after the fire. After the tower was repaired during the reign of Selim III, a bay window was added to the upper floor of the tower. In 1831, it suffered another fire, and Mahmut II ordered two more floors to be built on top of the tower. After that, the top of the tower was covered with the famous cone-shaped roof.

The Galata Tower was overturned in a storm in 1875, and repairs began in 1965 and were finished in 167, giving it its current look.