Turkish Delight: The Galata Tower

The Galata Tower is a beautiful medieval stone tower, and is one of the oldest and most beautiful in Istanbul. It was built in 1348 by the Byzantines, but destroyed by the Latin Crusaders in 1204 during the Sack of Constantinople. This tower is one of the symbols of Istanbul and is situated in Galata, on a hill overlooking the historical peninsula.

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Galata Tower was the tallest building of Istanbul until the construction of Beyazıt Tower in 1749. During the Ottoman period, Galata Tower functioned as a jail, observatory house, and watch tower. After the restorations took place in 1960, Galata Tower was commercialized and opened to the public. Today, the tower functions as a 360-degree viewing platform of Istanbul.

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It was my first time visiting the tower, and I had one of the best views of the city. I found that it was quite difficult to take pictures of the tower, as it was surrounded by buildings.

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At the tower there is a very nice restaurant. When you walk around the top, you have panoramic views of the city. It is very easy to get to the tower and, depending where you are in the city, it is possible to see it from many different viewpoints.

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I have been to Istanbul a few times, but never had the opportunity to visit the Galata tower. Thanks to the rain I managed to do some indoor activities. It’s a fantastic place to visit, whenever your come to this city.