Hanging around Galatasaray

Galata, Istanbul, originally uploaded by szaza.

Yesterday I decided to visit Galata Kulesi, otherwise known as Galata Tower. I have never been to the tower, although I have always seen it standing tall over the Golden Horn. Built in 1348, the tower was the largest structure in Constantinople at 66.90 metres tall, looming on ground that is 35 metres above sea-level. It’s primary use during Ottoman times was for watching for fires. When I was a little girl, I believed it was from Galata Kulesi where Icarus attempted his escape on wings of wax.

Before entering the tower, I sat down in a café at its base for a quick bite and some çay— Turkish for tea. One thing I love about Turkish is the phonetic spelling of words— I ordered a tost, which is toast. Tost is a toasted cheese sandwich that you can add tomatoes to or my favourite, sucuk, a spicy sausage. That was of course, what I had.

Up at the top of the tower you will find yourself with one of the most magnificent views of Istanbul. You can watch boats in the Marmara sea waiting their turn for entry into the Bosphorus, you can see Aya Sofya (Hagia Sophia), Sultanahmet Camii (The Blue Mosque) and Topkapı Palace. It’s truly stunning and worth seeking out on a visit to this wonderful city.

View from Galata Tower, Istanbul, originally uploaded by szaza.

I used a Faber-Castell PITT Artist Pen with gouache in an Istanbul City Moleskine.
To see the photos I took atop the tower, take a trip to my blog Harika.