Galata Tower

Look up. This cylindrical stone tower has dominated the Galata district for almost seven centuries. When it was finished in 1348, it was the tallest building in the city.

1A Genoese colony

In the Middle Ages this shore of the Golden Horn wasn't Byzantine but Genoese. The emperors had granted the Republic of Genoa a trading colony, which was walled like a small independent town. The tower, then called Christea Turris, the "Tower of Christ", was the highest point of those walls. After the conquest of 1453, the Genoese handed Galata over to Mehmed II without a fight.

2From prison to lookout

The Ottomans put it to many uses: it served as a prison and, from the 18th century, as a fire lookout, essential in a city of wooden houses. It suffered several fires, and today's conical roof was rebuilt during the restoration of 1965 to 1967. Today it's a museum with a viewing gallery.

3The man who flew

The tower's most famous story is told by the traveller Evliya Çelebi in the 17th century.

According to his account, Hezarfen Ahmed Çelebi leapt from the top with a pair of wings and glided over the Bosphorus to Üsküdar, on the Asian shore.

It's a story of very doubtful authenticity, yet Hezarfen now lends his name to an airfield and is a folk hero of Turkish aviation.

4What to look for

• The gallery of windows near the top, today's viewing platform.
• The remains of the Genoese walls in the nearby streets.
• The view towards the old city as you walk back down the slope.