Galata Tower
A medieval stone tower crowning the skyline of Beyoğlu, offering one of the most breathtaking 360° views of Istanbul.
Built in 1348 by the Genoese as the 'Christea Turris' (Tower of Christ), Galata Tower rose as the crown of their fortified colony across the Golden Horn. Standing nearly 67 meters tall, it was the tallest building in the city for centuries. It served in turn as a watchtower, a fire lookout, an observatory and — according to legend — the launch pad from which the 17th-century aviator Hezârfen Ahmed Çelebi glided across the Bosphorus on wooden wings. Today its observation deck is one of Istanbul's most beloved sunset spots.
In 1638, Ottoman chronicler Evliya Çelebi wrote that Hezârfen Ahmed Çelebi flew from Galata Tower to Üsküdar on the Asian side — the earliest recorded human glide across a continent.