Istanbul Travel Guide

Istanbul Golden Horn

In Turkish language, its name is, “Haliç”. During the time of Byzantine and Ottoman Empires, it was a significant place where the ships were anchored.

In Turkish language, its name is, “Haliç”. During the time of Byzantine and Ottoman Empires, it was a significant place where the ships were anchored. The reason behind the name, “Golden Horn” is because the water’s color shines with a gold color due to the reflection of the sun.

The Byzantine Empire blocked the entrance with a chain to prevent the unwanted ships from entering. In 1453, Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II imitated the Norsemen and towed his ships across Galata over greased logs.

Before the 19th century, there was no bridge connecting the Golden Horn. In 1836, the Galata Bridge was built for this purpose. Famous architect and painter Leonardo da Vinci envisaged a plan 720-foot bridge to span the Golden Horn in 1572. If you would like to join to a Bosphorus tour, you will definetly realize this gorgeous beauty. We recommend you taking as many photos as you can.