The Yedikule Fortress corporate trip is a half-day guided programme at the seven-towered fortress in the Yedikule quarter of Fatih, where Istanbul's land walls reach the Marmara shore. The ceremonial gate of Byzantium and the castle the Ottomans used as a treasury and prison are explained within the same structure. It suits teams looking for a historical stop away from the busy Sultanahmet routes.

What is in the programme?

Four of the fortress's towers belong to the land walls built under Theodosius II in the 5th century; two of them flank the marble-clad Golden Gate, through which emperors entered the city in triumphal processions. Shortly after the conquest, Sultan Mehmed II added three towers and connecting walls on the inner side of the walls, creating a pentagonal inner citadel, and the structure took the name Yedikule, meaning the seven-towered fortress.

In the Ottoman period the fortress was used for a time as a treasury and later as a prison, holding foreign envoys and high-ranking state figures in particular. The killing of Osman II here in 1622 is one of the most striking episodes the guide recounts. Depending on which sections are open to visitors, the tour covers the courtyard, the tower interiors and the view of the Sea of Marmara from the walls.

Highlights

• The Byzantine land walls and the Ottoman inner citadel seen in a single structure
• The role of the Golden Gate in imperial ceremonies
• The story of the towers used as a treasury and a prison
• Views over the Marmara shore from the walls

Who Is It For?

Planned for SME and corporate teams of 10-80. It suits teams who have already seen Istanbul's well-known sights, those interested in military architecture and city defence, and companies looking for an economy-budget half-day activity. The effort level is moderate: walking in the courtyard is easy, but the stone stairs up to the towers and the top of the walls are steep and in places have no handrails.

Planning Notes

• Restoration work takes place at the fortress from time to time, so the sections open to visitors should be confirmed before booking.
• Climbs onto the walls and towers should be optional for participants who are uneasy with heights.
• The programme can be combined with lunch in Samatya or a short walk along the walls towards Mermerkule.
• With little shade on site, morning hours are preferable in the summer months.