Walls of Constantinople (Theodosian Land Walls)

The Walls of Constantinople are among the greatest fortifications ever built. Their best-preserved section, the Theodosian Land Walls, stretches for roughly six kilometres across the peninsula from Yedikule on the Sea of Marmara to Ayvansaray on the Golden Horn. Towers, gates and long stretches of curtain wall still stand today, lined by market gardens, parks and old neighbourhoods. Walking a section of the walls is one of the most atmospheric things to do on a Byzantine-themed Istanbul tour, and the walls form part of the Historic Areas of Istanbul, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985.

History

As Constantinople outgrew the older walls of Constantine the Great, a new line of defence was built further west in the reign of Emperor Theodosius II, completed in 413 under the direction of the praetorian prefect Anthemius. When a severe earthquake damaged the walls in 447, while Attila and the Huns threatened the empire, they were rebuilt with remarkable speed and strengthened with an outer wall and a broad moat. The result was a triple barrier: a moat, a lower outer wall and a massive inner wall with nearly a hundred towers.

For about a thousand years the land walls held back armies of Avars, Persians, Arabs, Bulgars and Rus. The Fourth Crusade of 1204 entered the city from the sea walls along the Golden Horn rather than through the land walls. In 1453 Sultan Mehmed II besieged the city with huge cannons, concentrating his attack on the middle section near the Gate of St. Romanus, today's Topkapı. After weeks of bombardment the Ottoman army broke through on 29 May 1453, ending the Byzantine Empire. The Ottomans repaired the walls, and Mehmed II built Yedikule Fortress at their southern end.

What to See

The walls are an open-air monument with many gates and towers along their length. Some sections have been restored, others remain as romantic ruins. Good places to start include:

• Yedikule and the Golden Gate: the southern end, with the Ottoman Seven Towers fortress.
• Belgrade Gate and Silivri Gate: restored stretches with gardens along the moat.
• Mevlanakapı: one of the main gates, with Byzantine and Ottoman inscriptions.
• Topkapı (Gate of St. Romanus): the area of the final assault of 1453, near the Panorama 1453 History Museum.
• Edirnekapı: the highest point of the old city, close to the Chora (Kariye) Mosque.
• Tekfur Palace: a late Byzantine palace built into the northern section of the walls.

Visitor Tips

There is no ticket and no fixed opening time for the walls themselves, but climbing on the ramparts is unsafe in many places and should be avoided; enjoy them from the paths and parks below. Some sections pass through quiet or neglected areas, so explore in daylight and preferably with company. Comfortable shoes, water and sun protection are essential in summer. The most rewarding way to see the walls is on a guided Istanbul tour that combines a stretch of the walls with Yedikule Fortress, the Panorama 1453 museum, Tekfur Palace and the mosaics of the Chora.