Did you know that Istanbul is one of the oldest cities in the world? You may hear of Constantinople before, which is the ancient name of Istanbul in the past. In this blog, we will present you the Istanbul with its old buildings and the history behind these buildings. You can also check our Istanbul tours to discover more about this beautiful city & history! Castles and Towers of Istanbul
1) Rumelihisarı (European Fortress)
Rumelihisarı is a castle that was built between the years of 1451 and 1452 by Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II. It is located in Sarıyer, which is one of the beautiful districts of Istanbul. It used to be an event place like concerts or dramatic performances but unfortunately not now. But good news, it is open as a museum for visitors every day except Wednesdays so that you can visit it anytime you want!
2) Anadoluhisarı (Anatolian Fortress)
Anadoluhisarı was built between 1393 and 1394 on the order of the Ottoman Sultan Bayezid I, as part of his preparations for a siege on the then-Byzantine city of Constantinople. It is located in Beykoz on the Anatolian Side of Istanbul. After it got restored in 1993, Anadoluhisarı serves as a museum today, but only outer walls are able to be visited.
3) Galata Tower
Galata Tower is one of the most famous symbols of Istanbul with its story and history. The tower was built by the Byzantine Emperor Justinianos at first in 507-508 AD. The current shape of the building was rebuilt by Genoese in 1the years between 1348 and 1349. Until our day, the tower has been repaired many times because of the damages by earthquakes, fires, and other natural disasters. The last repair of the building is 1967, and it has saved its shape since then. It can be visited as a museum, but we recommend you to arrive early because the line can become very, very long!
4) Beyazıt Tower (Fire Tower)
Beyazıt Tower was built as a fire tower, as it can be understood in 1749. But the building materials were not suitable for fire, and it got destroyed by a fire in 1756. In 1828, the tower had built with the right materials after it brought in a fire again in 1826. After it got restored, it has named Seraskerat Tower. Today, the building is used as Fire Tower as well.
5) Dikilitaş (Egyptian Obelisk)
Egyptian Obelisk in Istanbul was transported several times Before it had its current location in the Sultanahmet Egyptian Obelisk. The first location of the Dikilitaş (Egyptian Obelisk) has initially been at the temple of Karnak, erected in the 15th century B.C., which means it’s the oldest monument that you can see in Istanbul with bare eyes.
6) Yıldız Clock Tower
Sultan Abdulhamid II made this tower built-in 1890. The tower is located next to the courtyard of the Yıldız Hamidiye Mosque, in the Yıldız neighborhood of Beşiktaş, European side, which you can transport easily by feri from Asia. Yıldız Clock Tower was severely damaged by a strong bomb blast, and it got repaired in1993, but unfortunately, the system of the clock did not work.
7) Million Stone
The Million Stone was built at the beginning of the 4th century A.D. in Istanbul (Constantinople as previous). Until the late 19th century, the zero meridians were considered to have passed through Istanbul, where there were Million Stone once stood. In fact, many countries set their clocks to Istanbul’s time. Now, The Million Stone is located in the Sultanahmet, which is near to the Hagia Sophia.
8) Tower of Justice
Adalet Kulesi was built by Sultan Mehmet II after he captured Constantinople (Istanbul). Until the state council relocated to the Ottoman Porte, the tower was of vital importance. Today, Adalet Tower is open for visitors to see it. If you want to see the tower, you can find it between the Imperial Council and the Harem at the Topkapı Palace, which is another essential visiting point of Istanbul.
9) Theodosius Triumphal Arch
The Forum of Theodosius was built in honor of emperor Theodosius I by his son Arcadius, after his father’s death in A.D. 395. The original form of the forum has built by Constantine I, but it was renamed after Emperor Theodosius I, and it has rebuilt after it was surrounded by civic buildings such as churches or baths. In our day, it is in the district of Beyazıt which you can find easily and near to other touristic places like Sultanahmet.
10) Çemberlitaş Sütunu (Constantine’s Column)
The Column of Constantine is the oldest Constantinian monument in Istanbul and stood in the center of the Forum of Constantine in the past 328 AD. It is located on the second-highest hill of the seven hills of Istanbul. The column’s height is 34.8 meters above the present-day ground level.
