 Anatolian
Fortress
Sultan Bayezit
I the fortress it was built by at the end of the 14th century on
the city's Anatolian shores.
Also called the Guzelce fortress, it is rather small in comparison
to the Rumeli fortress on the opposite shore.
The Göksu and Kucuksu rivers nearby are called the "Sweet Waters
of Asia" by the Westerners.
Not open to visitors.
 Rumeli
Fortress
This fortress was built by Fatih Sultan
Mehmet (the Conqueror) to stop any help that could possibly reach
Byzantium coming from the West. Construction work was started a
year before Fatih put a siege on the city and was completed in
just four months. The plan was drawn to adjust perfectly to the
uneven hills surrounding the area.
As the three towers of the fortress were built on order of the
three grand viziers of Sultan Mehmet, they bear their names: Halil
Pasha, Zaganos Pasha and Sarica Pasha.
Closed Monday.
Tel: (0212) 263 5305
 Yedikule
The Yedikule (Seven Towers) city gate
is located along the 5,632 meter-long land walls, which start at
the end of the sea walls. It is one of the main entrances to the
city. Over the gate, there is the double-headed eagle of
Byzantium. Inside Yedikule is another imposing gate, built in 390
by Theodosius I as the arch of victory for the commanders
returning home from victorious battle. It was later turned into
one of the fortress gates after Theodosius II added the new city
walls to the old ones. The Byzantines called this gate Porta Aurea
(golden gate). After the conquest, the Turks added new fortress
which formed an independent castle and gave it the name Yedikule.
The Ottoman Treasury was kept in this tower for a while, and it
was turned into a prison for political prisoners in later times.
Only the ruins of the minaret of the mosque which was built for
the guardians can be seen today. The ruins of the amphitheater
also remain.
Open daily. Tel: (0212) 263 3505 |
