Galata Bridge

Galata Bridge located in Eminönü District of the historical peninsula connects Eminönü to the Golden Horn. Citizens well known for hunting curiosity and ingenuity throughout history use the bridge for fishing, the pedestrian path of the bridge used for pulling the abundance of the sea to the ashore.

Many bridges were built over the Golden Horn throughout the history but these bridges have lost their function due to various reasons. After the conquest of Istanbul by Fatih Sultan Mehmet (the Conqueror), the first bridge not known its technique and style was built between the districts of Kasımpaşa and Ayvansaray with the order of Fatih Sultan Mehmet.

Drawing a bridge project on the Golden Horn to ensure the transition was proposed to famous artist Leonardo Da Vinci by Sultan Beyazıt II in the 16th century. There are two rumors, one of which is that Leonardo Da Vinci drew the project but it wasn’t accepted by Sultan Beyazıt and the other one is that Leonardo Da Vinci was given up the journey to the Ottoman Empire by the Venetians. As a result, the bridge project had been suspended for about four hundred years.

After the mysterious bridge of Fatih Sultan Mehmet, the second bridge, built on the Golden Horn by Sultan Bezmialem, during period of Sultan Mahmut II in the 19th century, has been “Hayratiye Bridge” today’s Atatürk Bridge. It connects Azapkapı District of Beyoğlu to Unkapanı District.

“Cisr-I Cedid” bridge which is considered the ancestor of Galata Bridge was built during the period of Sultan Abdülmecit again in the 19th century. The bridge has been called names such as “Pigeon Bridge”, “New Bridge”, “New Mosque Bridge” and “Great Bridge”.

The new Galata Bridge wanted to make French built from hundred and five thousand gold coins between the years of 1870 and 1912 but it was built by a British company because there was a problem between France and Germany.

In 1912, another bridge was built for three hundred and fifty thousand golden coins because old bridge no longer met the needs. But the new built bridge had been damaged in May 1992 by a fire of which reason hadn’t been detected. A part of the bridge burned had been repaired and placed in more internal parts of the Golden Horn to ensure the transition between Hasköy and Feshane. Today, burning “Galata Bridge” is used to transfer from Hasköy to Feshane.

Today’s “Galata Bridge”

Galata Bridge was built for the fifth and last time thirty one months later after the last fire and it was finished in December 1994. The length of the bridge is four hundred ninety meters and wide of the bridge is forty two meters. Also the bridge has an opening up the middle part which allows passing the ships.

Galata Bridge has a feature being one of the largest bridges in the world which have on the rail line. The rail line is a tram.

In 2003, restaurants and cafes at the bottom of Galata Bridge were opened to the public. People not content with watching the view of the Golden Horn can be part of the landscape in these places open until the first light of morning.

Briefly you can go fishing on the Galata Bridge or you can eat a fish at the bottom restaurants with a glass of drink. You will feel the blue waters of the Golden Horn flowing under your feet. We hope you will see the magic places whether you come from any other country or you live in Istanbul.