People who live in Istanbul and tourists from all around the world are finally going to come together with the magical Galata Tower after months-long restoration works. The works for restoration have started in Istanbul’s iconic monument Galata Tower months ago. Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality handed over the restoration works to the General Directorate of Foundations. Istanbul Municipality was, by the way, operating the works during all those times.
Galata Tower Begins to Serve on September 15
Galata Tower is 672-year-old and it is one of the most iconic architectural structures of Istanbul. Further, the tower is a landmark building of the historical city. Meanwhile, its exterior is undergoing restoration. So, Istanbul Municipality will open Galata Tower to tourists on September 15, but this time as a museum.
The terrace of the tower will be available to reach only with an elevator. However, visitors will only able to use the stairs when going down. Thus, visitors will able to visit all floors of the tower. Turkey’s Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy also added that the tower will be a tourist attraction after the restoration works are done.
The Tower Will Be a Direction Center
“You can get information in the museum by looking at the historical and archaeological values of Istanbul. Galata Tower will become a direction center,” Ersoy added. He also pointed out that they will remove the restaurant and cafe inside the tower. “There are many restaurants and cafes around. We don’t have to make money from there. We build a modern museum inside, using it as a tourist attraction,” he stated.
General Directorate of Foundations Takes on the Works
Preliminary preparations started before the restoration works. The General Directorate of Foundations carried out all the preparations. Within the scope of the works, the directorate installed the scaffolds around the tower for exterior maintenance.
A Brief Summary of Galata Tower
Galata Tower is one of the highest and oldest towers in Istanbul. The Genoese colony built the tower in the 14th century by the Genoese colony. They built the tower as part of the defense wall surrounding their district in Beyoğlu. Their location, in the meantime, was taking place directly opposite ancient Constantinople.
The government, on the other hand, has been operating a “megaproject” just some hundred meters below the tower. The project is commonly famous as Galataport. Turkey’s Culture and Tourism Ministry expects the project is going to boost the city’s tourism and increase tourism revenues.
The government has been developing the project in Istanbul’s Karaköy district. Works are laying along the 1,200-meter coastline.
Where is the Galata Tower?
The Galata Tower takes place in the heart of Istanbul, the cultural capital of Turkey. Beyoğlu district, the very central location of Istanbul in the European side hosts Istanbul’s iconic historical monument. So, the tower has been witnessing the change of the city for more than 670 years.
So, save the date of September 15 when the tower and the visitors will finally meet again. One of the most important tourist attractions both in Turkey and Istanbul, thus, is going to keep welcoming millions of visitors again.
