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About the Galata Bridge in Istanbul, Turkey

Updated: 05 Nov 2013

Created: 05 Nov 2013


Galata Bridge

Stretching across the Golden Horn, the Galata Bridge in Istanbul earns fame worldwide. Every day, locals and tourists depict life on this popular tourist attraction. As ferries depart from the ferry dock and sail underneath, people hurry around on top or stand and admire beautiful views as far as the eye can see.

The Golden Horn's significance dates to the first settlement, then called Byzantium. However, the area flourished during the Byzantine and Ottoman empires when foreign merchants flocked to Istanbul, a significant point on the old Silk Road. Hence, the idea of a bridge is nothing novel; it is human nature advancing in architectural standards.

 

Why Galata Bridge in Istanbul is Famous

 

The History of Galata Bridge

Connecting the two halves of European Istanbul dates to the 6th century. However, in 1453, Ottoman Turks wanted to move their troops from one side of the Golden Horn to the other, so they placed their ships across the water and created a mobile bridge. 

Stories from the conquest might have given birth to building a permanent structure. Sultan Bayezid II planned to construct the first bridge in 1502. Leonardo da Vinci produced an ambitious design that was not to the Sultans’ liking. He then asked another Italian artist, Michelangelo, for designs, but Michelangelo was not interested. Plans were put aside until the 19th century when Sultan Mahmut II built the Hayratiye bridge further up the horn.

In 1845, Valide Sultan, mother of Sultan Abdülmecid I, constructed a wooden bridge called Cisr-i Cedid, named so to distinguish it from an earlier version further up. It was free to cross for three days, and a French Captain passed under it in his ship. On November 25th, 1845, the Naval Ministry introduced a toll. In 1863, a second wooden bridge, built by Ethem Pertev Pasa, replaced the first. Sultan Abdulaziz ordered it upon readiness for a visit by Napoleon III.

In 1870, a French company, Forges et Chantiers de la Mediteranee, was due to construct a third version. However, due to the war between France and Germany, the project was delayed, and eventually, a new contract was awarded to a British firm, G. Wells. Completed in 1875, this version was in use until 1912, when it was removed by pulling it upstream to replace the old Cisr-i Atik bridge.

Hutten Werk Oberhausen AG built the fourth version in 1912 and was paid 350,000 gold lira. It was severely damaged in a fire in 1992 and towed to make way for the replacement. The Turkish construction company STFA built the remaining structure, which Göncer Ayalp Engineering Company designed. It is situated just a few metres away, between Karakoy and Eminonu, and completed in December 1994.

 

Prominent Architectural Features

The famous bridge (a bascule structure) is 490 metres long and has a main span of 80 metres. The deck is 42 metres wide and accommodates three vehicular lanes and a single walkway in each direction. Tram tracks have been added to it, improving transportation links, and facilitating travel.

 

Cultural Heritage for Istanbul Locals

For many locals, the structure links the two parts of European Istanbul: the old and the new. The valuable transport route is also a popular spot for local fishermen. Often seen with a romantic appearance at sunset, men line both sides to capture fish swimming underneath. Besides them, constant flurries of birds’ flock to cash in on the fresh catch.

If you go to the Eminonu side, small boats docked up are the perfect place to sample traditional street food. Vendors grill fish, add a salad, and place it between bread; that is your famous fish sandwich. Alongside vibrant atmospheres, under the bridge are numerous restaurants and a fish market that serve fresh fish, but these are highly priced.

Although rarely mentioned in foreign publications, for Turkish writers and poets, the historic bridge is about much more. Turkish Author Peyami Safa wrote about the structure in one of his novels. Once a connection to Jewish communities who lived in the Galata quarter, the structure appears in many poems and stories.

 

Other Bridges in Istanbul

Any essential trip to the Bosphorus will reveal more bridges. Linking Istanbul’s European and Asian sides, they can be spotted from ferry boats, which are a form of leisure used by locals for commuting in daily life. Some give off breathtaking views while standing as iconic landmarks. The most popular, the Bosphorus Bridge, is the oldest and links the neighbourhoods of Ortakoy and Beylerbeyi.

 

Nearby Neighbourhoods and Bustling Streets

Karakoy: Also known by the other name of Galata, this district consists of narrow streets and the Jewish Museum, which depicts life in the area for other religions until the twentieth century. To complete your sightseeing trip, visit the nearby Galata Tower, from which the top viewing platform gives off priceless views over the Golden Horn and surrounding neighbourhoods.

If you time your visit right, when the call to prayer from mosques sounds out, the acoustic sound, alongside the panoramic views, is fantastic since Istanbul was built on seven hills. After the tower, walk further along the coastline to see the famous Istanbul Museum of Modern Art in the Galataport Cruising Terminal. Continue to Istiklal Avenue, in the Taksim area, known for the nostalgic trams and other tourist monuments. This insight into Turkish life displays the nightlife and shopping heart.

Eminonu: Meanwhile, the Eminonu district sits on the other side. In years gone by, people drove horse-drawn carriages across the bridge, but these days, you can walk and pass the popular spot for fishing or take the tram. Eminonu is home to the new mosque, Grand Bazaar, and the Spice Bazaar. Also, walk further into the Fatih district to reach the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, and Topkapi Palace, more well-known landmarks to visit after the Galata Bridge in Istanbul.

Galata Istanbul