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A dark fortress that time forgot is rising from the ruins of empires
- Istanbul's Yedikule Hisari, or "Fortress of the Seven Towers," stands as a vital historic landmark spanning 1,700 years, anchored by the Golden Gate, a 39-foot-high triumphal arch that once served as the ceremonial portal for Byzantine emperors.
- Sultan Mehmed II commissioned the fortress in the 15th century as a strategic center to house the Imperial Treasury and state archives; tour guide Turan Oflaz describes it as the "central bank" and most secure vault of the Ottoman Empire.
- In the 16th century, the site transitioned into a prison where inmates left "inscriptions carved into the stone walls," says Oflaz, making the Kitabeli Kulesi, or Tower of Inscriptions, "virtually a center of diplomatic memory."
- While some prisoners like emissary Francois Pouqueville survived and pursued intellectual growth during his nearly two-year imprisonment from 1799 to 1801, popular myth suggests heads of slain prisoners were thrown into a well known as Kanli Kuyu, or the Bloody Well.
- A multi-stage restoration project begun in 2020 is revitalizing the landmark; a 400-lira entrance fee, around $8, now allows visitors to explore the courtyard, which Oflaz called "a vibrant center of life.
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A dark fortress that time forgot is rising from the ruins of empires
By Lisa Morrow, CNN Istanbul (CNN) — It’s been a prison, a fortress, an imperial treasury, and a desolte ruin. Over hundreds of years, Istanbul’s dark citadel has survived empires and neglect alike — and now, as it undergoes a major rebirth, its deepest secrets are coming to light.Yet despite being one of Istanbul’s most
·Panama City, United States
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Total News Sources10
Leaning Left1Leaning Right0Center9Last UpdatedBias Distribution90% Center
Bias Distribution
- 90% of the sources are Center
90% Center
C 90%
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