Wooden Dome of Galata Tower Burned

Galata Tower is a tower located in the Galata district of Istanbul. The building, which was built in 528, is among the important symbols of the city. Bosphorus and Golden Horn can be viewed from the tower in panoramic view. UNESCO included the tower in the World Heritage Tentative List in 2013.

History of Galata Tower

Galata Tower is one of the oldest towers in the world and it was built by the Byzantine Emperor Anastasius in 528 as the Fener Tower. IV in 1204. The tower, which was extensively destroyed in the Crusade, was rebuilt in 1348 by the Genoese in addition to the walls of the Galata, using massive stones called the "Tower of Christ". When it was rebuilt in 1348, it became the largest building in the city.

Galata tower was raised between 1445-1446. The tower was renewed and repaired almost every century after it was conquered by the Turks. It was used as a shelter for the Christian prisoners of war, operated in the shipyards of Kasımpaşa in the 16th century. Sultan III. With the permission of Murat, a observatory was established here by the astrologer Takiyüddin, but this observatory was closed in 1579.

IV in the first half of the 17th century. In the period of Murat Hezarfen Ahmet Çelebi, after collecting winds in Okmeydanı and performing flight exercises, flew to Üsküdar-Doğancılar from Galata Tower in 1638 by placing eagle wings made of wood on his back. This flight was met with interest in Europe, and engravings showing this flight were made in England.

The tower has been used as a fire watchtower since 1717. The fire was reported by playing a large drum so that the public could hear it. III. Most of the tower was burned in a fire during Selim period. The repaired tower was damaged and repaired in another fire in 1831. In 1875, the cone was overthrown in a storm. With the last repair started in 1965 and completed in 1967, today's view of the tower was provided.

Features of Galata Tower

Its height from the ground to the end of its roof is 66,90 meters. The wall thickness is 3.75 m, the inside diameter is 8.95 m and the outside diameter is 16.45 m. According to the static calculations, its weight is approximately 10.000 tons, and its thick body is of untreated rubble stone.

Many skulls and bones were found in the canal under the pits in its depth. The basement of the middle void was used as a dungeon. Some suicide events have been recorded in the history of the tower. In 1876, an Austrian took advantage of the watchfulness of the guards and threw himself down the tower. On June 6, 1973, 15-year-old son of famous poet Ümit Yaşar Oğuzcan, Vedat, committed suicide by jumping from the tower. Oguzcan wrote the poem named Galata Tower on it.