Panoramic city view

The panoramic view of the city, in Istanbul

From the gardens of the mosque of Suleiman, a splendid view opens onto the Golden Horn, the Galata bridge and the famous tower of the same name. The Istanbul audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this panorama of grey domes descending towards the Bosphorus, and the Galata tower, former Genoese watchtower of nearly sixty-seven metres, once prison and observatory, recognisable by its pointed roof on the other bank.

History

You are now in the gardens at the rear of the mosque of Suleiman, and you understand better why the sultan chose to have it built on a hill. This sea of grey domes with slender chimneys, that descends towards the Bosphorus, opens to you a splendid view of the Golden Horn, the city and the Galata bridge, as well as the famous tower of the same name. Located on the other bank, in the north part of the port of the Golden Horn, you will recognise it by its pointed roof. It is said that in 1348, a Turk made himself artificial wings and flew over the Bosphorus for about three kilometres. The tower was built as an observation tower and was part of the fortifications of a colony of Genoese who had negotiated with the Byzantines the right to settle there. Under the various sultans, it served the watchmen to signal fires, but also as a prison, before becoming an astronomical observatory. Culminating at nearly sixty-seven metres, it was long the highest construction of the city, and still today offers one of its finest panoramas.

What to see

Here you embrace, from the gardens of the mosque of Suleiman, a splendid view of the sea of domes descending towards the Bosphorus, the Golden Horn, the Galata bridge and the famous Genoese tower of the same name, former watchtower, prison and observatory of nearly sixty-seven metres. The panoramic view reveals all the beauty of Istanbul. It is a fine stop, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The panoramic view is admired from the gardens at the rear of the mosque of Suleiman, on the hill, in Istanbul, reachable on foot. It is a viewpoint in free access, particularly beautiful at sunset; the Galata tower, on the other bank, is visited according to its own conditions. You discover it during the walk.

What do you see from the panoramic view of the mosque of Suleiman in Istanbul?

From the gardens of the mosque, you discover a sea of grey domes descending towards the Bosphorus, the Golden Horn, the Galata bridge and the famous tower of the same name, on the other bank; this former Genoese watchtower of nearly sixty-seven metres, once prison and astronomical observatory, was long the highest construction of the city.

Where to admire the panoramic view in Istanbul?

From the gardens of the mosque of Suleiman, on the hill, in Istanbul, in Turkey.