Legends of Galata Tower — Hezarfen Çelebi's Flight, Love Stories & Myths

The Flight of Hezarfen Ahmed Çelebi (1632)

Of all the legends associated with Galata Tower, none is more famous — or more debated — than the tale of Hezarfen Ahmed Çelebi and his daring flight across the Bosphorus.

The Story According to Evliya Çelebi

Our primary source for this extraordinary account is Evliya Çelebi (1611–1682), the great Ottoman traveler and writer whose ten-volume Seyahatname (Book of Travels) is one of the most important documents of 17th-century Ottoman life. In Book One, which covers Istanbul, Evliya describes the event as follows:

"First, he practiced by flying over the pulpit of Okmeydanı eight or nine times with eagle wings, using the force of the wind. Then, as Sultan Murad Khan watched from the Sinan Paşa Mansion at Sarayburnu, Hezarfen Ahmed Çelebi flew from the very top of the Galata Tower and, making use of the south-west wind, crossed over to Üsküdar, landing in the Doğancılar Square."

According to Evliya, the event took place in 1632, during the reign of Sultan Murad IV (r. 1623–1640). The distance from Galata Tower to Doğancılar in Üsküdar is approximately 3.4 kilometers (2.1 miles) across the Bosphorus strait.

The Man Behind the Legend

The name Hezarfen is itself revealing — it comes from the Persian hezar (thousand) and fen (science/skill), literally meaning "the man of a thousand sciences." This was an honorific title, suggesting that Ahmed Çelebi was known as a polymath before his famous flight. Some sources describe him as a scholar who studied mathematics, physics, and the mechanics of bird flight.

The legend states that Hezarfen Ahmed Çelebi spent years studying the flight patterns of birds and experimenting with wing designs. He reportedly made several practice flights from Okmeydanı (a training ground on the European side of Istanbul) before attempting the dramatic cross-Bosphorus flight from Galata Tower.

The Sultan's Reaction

Evliya Çelebi records that Sultan Murad IV initially rewarded Hezarfen with a purse of gold coins and praised him. However, the Sultan's advisors — possibly Grand Vizier Bayram Paşa — allegedly warned that such a man could be dangerous:

"This is a frightening man. He is capable of doing anything he wishes. It is not right to keep such people."

According to the account, Hezarfen was subsequently exiled to Algeria, where he died not long after. This detail, if true, adds a poignant coda to the story: a man punished for achieving the impossible.

The Historical Debate

Modern historians are divided on the authenticity of the account:

Arguments in favor:

• Evliya Çelebi claims to have been an eyewitness to the event
• The physics of a gliding flight from the tower's elevation (roughly 140 meters above sea level) to the Asian shore are theoretically possible, given favorable wind conditions
• Ottoman scientific culture of the 17th century included genuine interest in mechanics, astronomy, and experimental science
• Other cultures have similar accounts of early glider experiments that have proven credible

Arguments against:

• Evliya Çelebi, while invaluable as a historical source, is known for exaggeration and embellishment throughout the Seyahatname
• No other contemporary source corroborates the account
• A 3.4 km gliding flight using 17th-century materials and aeronautical knowledge would be an extraordinary achievement
• The narrative structure of the story — triumph followed by exile — is a common literary trope

Legacy in Modern Turkey

Regardless of its historical accuracy, the legend of Hezarfen Ahmed Çelebi has become deeply embedded in Turkish cultural identity:

• The Istanbul Hezarfen Airfield (on the European side of Istanbul) is named after him
• A 1996 Turkish film, İstanbul Kanatlarımın Altında (Istanbul Beneath My Wings), dramatized the story
• He appears on Turkish postage stamps and in school textbooks
• The Istanbul Galata Tower Museum includes an exhibition dedicated to the legend
• He is frequently invoked in discussions about Ottoman contributions to science and aviation

The Love Legend: Galata and the Maiden's Tower

The Romance Across the Water

The second most famous legend of Galata Tower involves a love story that stretches across the Bosphorus. According to this tale, a young man living near Galata Tower fell deeply in love with a maiden imprisoned in the Kız Kulesi (Maiden's Tower), the small tower on an islet at the entrance to the Bosphorus on the Asian side.

The two could see each other from their respective towers — Galata Tower on the European hill, the Maiden's Tower on its islet — but could never be together. The young man would gaze across the water every day, and the maiden would signal back from her prison. Their impossible love became a symbol of longing and devotion.

In some versions of the legend, the young man eventually swims across the treacherous currents to reach the Maiden's Tower, only to find that the maiden has died. In others, they are eventually reunited and live happily together. The story has clear echoes of the ancient Greek myth of Hero and Leander, in which Leander swam the Hellespont (Dardanelles) nightly to visit his beloved Hero.

The Marriage Prophecy

Over the centuries, this romantic legend evolved into a popular belief: any couple who visits Galata Tower together will eventually marry. This prophecy has no historical basis, but it has become so widely known that it significantly influences visitation patterns — the tower is perpetually busy with couples, especially during sunset hours and on Valentine's Day.

Local tourism businesses have embraced the legend enthusiastically, and it is not uncommon to see marriage proposals at the observation balcony. The combination of the romantic legend, the spectacular sunset views, and the intimate atmosphere of the ancient tower creates what many visitors describe as one of Istanbul's most magical experiences.

The Roman Marriage Legend

A lesser-known but charming legend predates the Genoese tower entirely. According to this tale, during the Roman period (when the area was part of the broader Constantinople), a watchtower on this hilltop was associated with a marriage tradition. Young Romans living on the northern shore of the Golden Horn would climb the tower to publicly declare their intention to marry, and the declaration — made from the highest point, visible to all — served as an engagement announcement.

While there is no historical evidence for this specific practice, the legend connects to a broader truth: the hilltop has been a significant public gathering point for millennia, and its prominence in the landscape made it a natural focal point for community rituals.

The White Seagull of Galata

The Legend

Among the lesser-known folklore of Galata Tower is the story of the White Seagull (Beyaz Martı). According to this tale, a single pure-white seagull lives on the tower and serves as its guardian spirit. The seagull is said to appear only to those who visit the tower with a pure heart and genuine curiosity. Seeing the white seagull is considered a sign of good fortune.

The legend likely arose from the observation that seagulls frequently roost on the tower's conical cap and observation balcony — the warmth of the stone and the height make it an attractive perch. Occasionally, an unusually pale or leucistic gull might appear among the common yellow-legged gulls of Istanbul, feeding the legend.

Seagulls and Istanbul

Seagulls are deeply embedded in Istanbul's identity. The city is home to large populations of yellow-legged gulls (Larus michahellis), and their cries are as much a part of the city's soundtrack as the call to prayer. The association of a particularly special gull with Galata Tower fits naturally into Istanbul's broader culture of urban nature mythology.

Galata Tower in Literature and Art

Galata Tower has appeared in countless literary and artistic works over the centuries:

• Evliya Çelebi (17th century) — The most detailed early description of the tower and its legends
• Gérard de Nerval (1843) — The French poet described the tower in Voyage en Orient
• Edmondo De Amicis (1878) — The Italian writer devoted pages to the tower in his Constantinople travelogue
• Orhan Pamuk — The Nobel laureate has referenced the tower in several works, including The Black Book and Istanbul: Memories and the City
• Ara Güler — The legendary photographer captured some of his most iconic Istanbul images with the tower as backdrop

The tower has also been featured in Turkish cinema, television, music, and contemporary art. Its silhouette is instantly recognizable and has become shorthand for "Istanbul" in visual culture worldwide.

Visiting the Legends

Today's visitors to Galata Tower can experience these legends firsthand:

• Floor exhibitions in the museum include dedicated displays about Hezarfen Ahmed Çelebi's flight, with historical illustrations and scientific analysis
• The observation balcony offers the exact vantage point from which Hezarfen allegedly launched his flight — visitors can gaze across the Bosphorus to Üsküdar and imagine the audacity of the attempt
• On a clear day, the Maiden's Tower is visible from the balcony, connecting you to the love legend
• Sunset visits are the most atmospheric time to experience the romantic legends
• The neighborhood streets below contain plaques, murals, and shop names referencing the various legends

For practical information about visiting, see our Plan Your Visit hub.