The Galata Tower Turkey

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Galata Tower called as a huge structure is above one hundred and forty meters from sea level and the length of the tower is sixty meters. Diameter of the structure is nearly nine meters while wall thickness of the tower is close to four meters. It is believed that the weights of the tower is about ten thousand tons.

The Galata Tower is one of the most famous tourist attractions in the city on the European Side, located in Old Pera(Beyoglu) district. There is a restaurant on the top of the tower where you can enjoy a traditional Turkish Night. There is an elevator and two floors to walk up. The tower was the focus of the Genoese fortifications of Medieval Galata. Originally known asGalata Tower the "Tower of Christ", it was built in 1348 in connection with the first expansion of the Genoese Colony. 

 

History of Galata Tower
It is believed that little part of Beyazıt Tower firstly was built with entirely wood in 6^th century by the Byzantine Emperor Anastasius and it was used as a lantern tower. After the region had begun to be controlled by Genoese in 14^th century, it was built again but that time with stone masonry. Genoese gave the name of “Tower of Christ” to the tower and their trade center was the Golden Horn and the tower was used for controlling the trade center.
After conquest of Istanbul by Fatih Sultan Mehmet, Galata Tower had become a place that Chiristian war prisoners were executed. Then in the tower an observatory was set up by the order of Sultan Murat III in the last quarter of 16^th century but it didn’t work.
In the 17^th century, Hezarfen Ahmet Çelebi as the first flying Turk flied up from the Galata tower and succeeded to fly to Üsküdar District with eagle wings self- manufactured. In this way, Galata Tower has been home a historic event to be told over the centuries.
After a fire in the 19^th century, Galata Tower wasn’t used, but it was rebuilt by Sultan Mahmut II. Now the tower is used as a signal tower.
In 1965 Galata Tower was restored, two years later (1967), it was opened to visitors. The name of the tower comes from the district in other words during the Ottoman period the building has been known as Galata Tower.