The Galata Tower, İstanbul

It is estimated that the Galata Tower, which was once called Jesus Tower, was built at the beginning of the 500 AD, although not fully known. The oldest and most important work of the historical Galata region; The Romans, the Venetians, the Genoese and the Ottomans used them for different purposes.

Galata in Roman and Genoese Period

During the Romans period, Galata region was recorded as 13 out of 14 districts of Istanbul and was leaving in the neighborhoods. It is unclear exactly what date the first settlement began, but it certainly seems to be before the Romans.

It is written in the 44th century that the Great Constantine would like to be buried in Galata when he died. It was probably an important place at that time. In the 6th century, Justinian from the Roman emperors organized Galata. In the 13th century, a Genoese (Genoa) colony was established here. With the settlement of the Genoese, Galata became an autonomous region under the control of the Roman Empire. The Venetians, who are as good as the Genoese in maritime, came here and traded through the ports there.

The Genoese who came to Galata in 1200 years, an era when Rome was weakening, turned around the region around the city walls. Nevertheless, the warnings were taken seriously and some of the walls were later demolished, but they did not step back, and this time they built stone buildings from time to time. The famous Galata Tower, the main theme of our writing, has been built for surveillance at the highest place in the historic district. Their name, the Tower of Jesus ...

Galata Region in the Ottoman Period

For the Ottomans it was like an outer quarter, just like it was during the period of the Romans. This was one of the 4 regions of Istanbul (kadin, Eyüp, Üsküdar and Galata kadýlarý), ruled by kadýcý. I mean, she had a separate fate. After the conquest of 1453, the Genoese protected the rights of the people there. The young Fatih knew how much the Genoese and Venetians would deliver the region after the conquest of Istanbul.

However, the Ottomans were a bit distant from Galata. Both the state and the people did not see the Galata district "itself" until the 1800s. As a matter of fact, according to the researches, in the 1600s, 80% of the region's population was Christian. In Galata, which is divided into settlements within itself; There were 70 Greeks, 18 Muslims, 3 Franks, 2 Armenians and 1 Jewish neighborhood.

It is written that a forest covered with fig trees and a farm area full of milk-giving animals around Sütlüce - Kasımpaşa are written in front of Taksim and beyond. Nevertheless, it was often a region that is often referred to by its taverns and sanctuaries. In the following centuries Pera (Beyoğlu) shone with hotels and banks.

The world's oldest 3.metro line is also here. Opened on January 14, 1875, the tunnel line from Karaköy to İstiklal has a length of 575 meters.

Galata Tower (Jesus Tower)

The Galata Tower, according to estimates, was originally made by the Romans in 507, but its present form was given by the Genoese in 1348. The altitude is about 70 meters and the diameter is about 10 meters. It is estimated that the weight is 10 thousand tons.

1. The Genoese, who were estimated to have been built by Anastasius, placed a large Catholic cross. The crucifix on the top of the kulan, which was first referred to as the Tower of Christ before the Ottomans, was descended by Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror.

After the conquest of Istanbul, Galata Tower was used for different purposes during the Ottoman Empire period. In 1509, Istanbulites saw serious damages in the earthquake they called "Little Doomsday". He was restored by his great architect Hayrettin. During the reign of Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent he was turned into prison. Prisoners working in Kasimpasa shipyard were kept here for a while. Towards the end of the 1500s an observatory was established here by Takıüddin Efendi. But Sultan Sultan 3. Murat later closed it by saying, "There is no worrying about the stars" because of the arrangement of ahalin "looking under the skirts of the angels".

In the first quarter of the 18th century Galata Tower began to be used as a watch tower against the endless fires of Istanbul. A fate of fate burned itself in the end of the same century, unfortunately. The Galata Tower, which had been burning again half a century later, added celebrators during the 3rd Lecture and the 2nd Mehmut period. We also know that the roof of a storm in Istanbul in 1875 was flying. Galata Tower, which has undergone a restoration in the Republican era, today serves as a restaurant and a viewing terrace.

Galata Tower Legends

There are 2 stories that stand out among Galata Tower legends: The legends about marriage and the Maiden's Tower. But before I get to them, I would like to point out that perhaps there is a new legend.

Professor Dr. İlber Ortaylı recently explained that Hezarfen Ahmet Çelebi's flight to Galata Tower from Üsküdar was only a myth. It is a really ambitious statement about the information we think is correct to this day, but we can not assign it to Yoruba because Ilber Hodja is voicing it.

The Legend of the Oldest Galata Tower

Perhaps the most interesting legend among Galata Tower legends is the oldest one. According to this legend, the Romans believed in the following: If a woman and a man get married together for the first time in Galata Tower, they will absolutely get married ... But if one of the couples had already come to the tower (noticed by someone else or alone)

Galata Tower's legendary love

This myth is a fairytale story. According to this, Galata Tower and Maiden Tower are in love with each other. But it is also impossible to meet because of the incompetent throat. Day after day their aspirations are increasing. Then one day, Hezarfen Ahmet Çelebi climbed the tower, flying from Europe to the Anatolian side. Not depending on the insistence of the Galata Tower, it is winged by taking the letters that the mankind has accumulated for centuries and leaving them to the Maiden's Tower when approaching the shore of Salacak. The letters blown by the wind reach the Maiden's Tower with the help of the waves. The Tower of the Girl who understands that love is not free is more beautiful after letters. At this point, Galata Tower understands that love is not one-sided. These emotions, which the couple feels against each other, allow them to challenge each other for centuries ...

The Story of Galata Walls

Finally, I want to talk about the Galata fortifications, which have little information about them and are no longer in place. Called Hristos Walls in its time, 3 of these walls are on the land side and 1 on the sea side. Entrances and exits to the neighborhood were built from 12 different doors. The fact that 9 of these are in the direction of the sea supports Galata as a port city.

It is estimated that the walls of Galata, which are thought to be about 14 kilometers from the beginning, have a height of 10m - 12m. It is known that the last remains were destroyed in 1864.