On the second half of the 13th century the Genoeses were confined to a hill north of the Golden Horn in Constantinople named Galata, where they built up a huge tower (Galata Tower) that was the city's tallest structure at that time.
After the Ottoman conquest of Istanbul in 1453, the tower became a prison and naval depot. During the 19th century it was a fire lookout post in order to quickly detect frequent fire outbreaks in the city’s mainly wooden houses.
In 1967, after three years of restoration, the Galata Tower reopened its doors. The present tower has been restored to the appearance it had under the reign of Mehmet II during the Ottoman Empire.
In 1967, after three years of restoration, the Galata Tower reopened its doors. The present tower has been restored to the appearance it had under the reign of Mehmet II during the Ottoman Empire.
The cone-capped tower still dominates the Istanbul skyline, being one of its landmarks.
The Genoeses traded mainly on slaves, grain and dried fruits and supplied the Christians as well as the Muslim enemy.
Thank you!
Nice photos with bit of history.
ReplyDeleteI can recognize that dry lemons in the last photo, I had chicken stew with dry lemon in it for dinner one time in a island somewhere in Southern Aegean, it was very different taste, the local people told me, it's a receipt from Turkey.
Have a nice weekend. :)
Thanks, Leonor, for reminding me the stunning view of a part of the historic Istambul as seen from the Bosphorous...
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