Galata Tower, which is one of the most striking landmarks of Istanbul, overlooking Beyoglu and Karakoy, allows you to see a magnificent panoramic view of the Bosphorus, the Golden Horn, the Blue Mosque and many more iconic buildings of old Istanbul.

Galata Tower is known to be built during Byzantium around 500 and used to be known as the Tower of Christ, due to the Christ on its top. However took its current form by the Genoese in the late 1300s and served as trade, banking, and insurance center for many years. The Tower was used as a watchtower for fires during the Ottoman Period, as it was the tallest building, 66.9 meters, in Istanbul then.  

There are some interesting stories and legends about Galata Tower. One of them is about the Ottoman scientist/aviator Hezârfen Ahmet Celebi, who lived between 1609-1640. The story was reported in the writings of the famous Ottoman traveler, Evliya Celebi (kind of travel blogger then). Being influenced by Leonardo Da Vinci’s works on flight of birds, wearing replica of bird wings, Hezârfen Ahmet Celebi flew from the very top of Galata Tower, after flying the entire Bosphorus, he landed in Dogancilar Square in Uskudar (Asian side). Even though the traveler Evliya Celebi has a reputation of exaggeration in his narrations, Hezârfen Ahmet Celebi is still embraced as an inspiring figure for future aviators in Turkey.    

According to another legend about Galata Tower, whomever you climb Galata Tower with, you are destined to marry. However, if one of the couples had been to the Tower before, this magic would be broken. So, a tradition has developed and the people who wants to find their true love climb Galata Tower.