Once upon a time, in the heart of Istanbul, stood a tower that has witnessed centuries of history, the Beyazit Tower. This tower, a symbol of Istanbul’s historical past, is still standing tall in the Beyazit campus of Istanbul University. 🏛️🎓
A Symbol of Istanbul’s Past 🏰🕰️
The Beyazit Fire Tower is a significant monument among historical structures. It has seen countless fires throughout Istanbul’s history.
These fires caused economic, social, and psychological devastation, turning wooden houses and their contents into ashes. 🔥🏚️
The Beyazit Tower’s Construction 🏗️👷♂️
The first construction of the Beyazit Fire Tower was completed in 1749 with the aim of observing and preventing the relentless fires.
The initial tower was made of wooden material and was located in the Suleymaniye district.
However, after two fires, a new tower was built in the area where the central building of Istanbul University is located today. 🏢🔨
The Beyazit Tower’s Architecture 🏛️🎨
The Beyazit Fire Tower was finally built as a solid structure in 1828 by order of Sultan II Mahmud.
The architect was Senekerim Balyan Kalfa, a member of the famous Balyan family, who served the Ottoman state as architects and contractors for three generations.
The tower, 85 meters in length, initially had a wide eave wooden cover. This was replaced in 1849 with a three story, octagonal plan with round windows. 🏰👀
The Beyazit Tower’s Purpose 🚨🔥
The tower was established to observe fires and to notify the fire department of that time, the tulumbacılar, through a unique signaling system.
The observers living in the tower, known as ‘köşklü’, would hang large baskets or lanterns on the tower to signal a fire.
The Beyazit Fire Tower, along with the Galata Tower and the Icadiye Tower on the Üsküdar side, would work in coordination using these signaling systems during a fire. 🚒🔔
The Beyazit Tower Today 🏰🌤️
Today, the Beyazit Fire Tower continues to serve a purpose. After the declaration of the Republic, the tower began to announce daily meteorological news to the public through lights.
A blue light indicates clear weather, a green light indicates rain, a yellow light indicates fog, and a red light indicates snow. ❄️☔☀️
The Beyazit Fire Tower continues to attract attention, especially from Istanbul University students. It stands as a testament to the city’s past, a beacon in the present, and a symbol for the future. 🌟👏
So, the next time you’re in Istanbul, don’t forget to look up and spot the Beyazit Fire Tower, a symbol of resilience and a guardian of the city. 🌆👀
And that’s the tale of the Beyazit Fire Tower, a story of fire and resilience, of history and progress, and of a tower that has stood the test of time. 🕰️🔥🏰
