A Walk to the Galata Tower
One day we decided to walk to the Galata Tower on the other side of the Golden Horn. It was a memorable urban hike.
The Galata Tower was built by the Genoese in the mid-1300s. At the time, about 100 years before the Ottoman conquest, it was located in the Genoese colony outside Constantinople. Now it is in a part of Istanbul called Karakoy.
To get there we first had to walk to an area with the tongue twisting name of Eminonu. Eminonu is on the south side of the Golden Horn, a broad waterway that divides the European part of Istanbul.
To cross the Golden Horn we had to walk across the Galata Bridge, which is busy with pedestrians, cars a streetcar, and fishermen.
The tower is about 100 feet above sea level. When I read that, I demanded a recount. It feels like a steep climb.
When it was built, the Galata Tower at about 200 feet was the tallest building in or around Constantinople.
Fortunately, there’s an elevator. When we got to the top, we avoided the restaurant but took in the views.
The Galata Bridge seen from above.
Another view across the Golden Horn, this time with the Blue Mosque.
Looking away from the Golden Horn.
Back on ground level, I tried to instruct my boys in the profound lessons of history, but without much success.
The walk back down was faster.
By the time we crossed back across the Galata Bridge, dusk had fallen, and we watched the lights come on.
gardeninacity 
Thanks again, Jason, for the memories.
You’re welcome!
What an interesting city. Thanks for the tour!
You’re welcome!
Now that is a walk…I was tired. And such crowds….beautiful images at dusk too.
Yes, though one disadvantage of traveling around Christmas is the dusk comes so much faster.
It looks so beautiful from up high! I could paint a picture of all of those roof tops! And I enjoyed the bit about you trying to teach a history lessons to your boys!!! Thank you for sharing these Jason! A city that is very intriguing indeed! Nicole
I’m sure you could paint many wonderful pictures in Istanbul, Nicole.
You could give Rick Steves a run foir his money.
Oh, how I would love to write travel books for a living. Although that would take me away from the garden, wouldn’t it?
Among all that old classic beauty is a hodgepodge of satellite dishes. Kind of made me cringe, like billboards along a highway in a beautiful part of the country.
I know what you mean, but the satellite dishes kind of appeal to me for some reason.
Thank you for the tour. I´ve always wanted to see Istanbul. The Mosques are beautiful.
You should go! It’s closer to Denmark than to Chicago.
I was laughing re how your lesson with the boys went!!! Gosh, that is high, what great views, I do like the combination of the ancient and new buildings. Such a fascinating place.xxx
I also love the juxtaposition of old (and very old) and new.
I don’t know if I could stand living quite so closely as that but it’s a beautiful city that I’d love to visit. I know you said it was hazy but does it ever get smoggy too, with all the traffic?
I agree, it’s too densely packed for me to consider it as home. Nobody has a garden.
Fun shots of the family in an amazing city. Interesting how it was so hazy while you were there–it lends an air of mystery to your images. I hope to get to Istanbul someday. Everyone I know who’s been there has been impressed.
Good point, it does lend an air of mystery.
I like those steep stairs in these old cities. The terracing of buildings and gardens is so nice to see. We don’t have that density in this country.
I really like the pattern of those stairs and the little plantings.
I really liked it too, I thought it was very creative.
My trip to Istanbul was much shorter than I would have liked and I didn’t make it across the Horn. I would love to visit that tower! Must go back! 🙂
You should go back! We were there for 15 days. We figured we were going a very long distance so we should make the best of it. I’m really glad we made it a longer trip.