1960s-Current: A Site of Tourism

A photograph of Galata Tower lit up at night

The Galata Tower was used as a fire observation tower until the 1960s, when it was restored and turned into a tourist attraction. The current tower has an elevator that reaches the seventh floor; visitors have to walk two more flights of stairs to reach the top if the tower. The top of the tower includes an observation deck that provides a 360-degree view of Istanbul. Though the tower is no longer the tallest structure in the city, the view it offers is unparalleled. From the observation deck, one can see the Bosphorus, Golden Horn, Blue Mosque, and other sites in the city. The top of the tower also contains a restaurant whose windows provide a panoramic view of the city (1).

A photograph of the restaurant inside the Galata Tower

View of Istanbul from the Galata Tower

The Galata Tower’s transformation into a tourist attraction may seem to take away from its significance to Istanbul’s history and culture. However, like the tower previously reflected the city’s changing identity, the tower continues to follow the trend of globalization and development in the city. Similar to its many physical restorations in the past, the most recent one has altered the role of the tower in Istanbul. Although the tower has always been known as an iconic site in the city, it’s now iconic for different reasons. By being known for “the best view in the city”, it seems that some of the historical significance may be stripped away from the site. The vantage point of the tower, however, has remained of vital importance to the site. Acting as various types of watchtowers, the view from the tower persists to be its identifying feature. Even now, as a popular tourist site, the tower is known for its view of Istanbul. Though the tower’s role has evolved, its fundamental function as a viewpoint is still collectively valued, proving its place as a lieu de mémoire in Istanbul.