Considered among the oldest towers in the world, the Galata Tower was first built in 507-508 CE to serve as a fire watchtower. Since then, it has managed to become one of the symbols of İstanbul’s eternal spirit.

As the saying goes, good things take time, and it has taken more than 1,500 years for the tower to look as it does today. It has been repaired and even reconstructed several times, and the current tower was erected by the Genoese in 1348. During the reign of Sultan Mahmud II, the Galata Tower attained its current look with the addition of its famous cone-shaped roof and the last two floors.

Due to the tower’s expansive history of restoration and renewal, there is a great variety of styles reflected on its floors. The first three floors, for example, reflect the characteristics of Genoese architecture, whereas the rest present a distinctive Ottoman style.

The Maiden’s Tower is located on a small islet near the Bosphorus Strait. It is not known exactly when the tower was built, but the architectural style points to the 300s BCE. Having served as a custom station for ships, the islet is thought to have been connected to the Asiatic shore through a defense wall whose underwater remains are still visible.

Just like the Galata Tower, the Maiden’s Tower is thought to have fallen into ruin due to several natural disasters. The glass kiosk and lead-covered dome were added during restoration. Today, the tower’s ground floor serves as a restaurant and the roof as a café. There’s also a museum with free admission.

Beyazıt Tower is an 85-meter fire watchtower that is located at İstanbul University’s main campus. At a certain point in history, a specific lighting system was developed, and the tower used this system to share the weather forecast with Istanbulites.