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GALATA TOWER
Galata Tower, one of the oldest and most beautiful towers in the world, was constructed in 528, during the reign of the Byzantine Empire. It was used in the 13th century by the Genoese. From the top there is a marvelous panaroma of the Golden Horn, Bosphorus, Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque, Haghia Sophia, Maidens Tower, old city Sultanahmet. The tower was erected to observe the port and the city, and after being used for various purposes over the centuries, it has now reassumed its original function of watch tower - this time to enjoy the view. An elevator takes the visitors to the top two floors of the tower that are today occupied by a restaurant.
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PERA MUSEUM
The Pera Museum, which opened its doors in early June 2005, is the first step of a comprehensive cultural endeavor that the Suna and İnan Kıraç Foundation has launched at this distinguished venue in the city for the purpose of providing cultural service on a variety of levels. An historical structure which was originally constructed in 1893 by the architect Achille Manoussos in Tepebaşı (İstanbul's most prestigious district in those days) and which was, until rather recently, known as the Bristol Hotel, was completely renovated to serve as a museum and cultural center for the project. Transformed into a fully-equipped modern museum, this venerable building is now serving the people of İstanbul once again. The Suna and İnan Kıraç Foundation's collection of Orientalist art consists of more than three hundred paintings. This rich collection brings together important works by European artists inspired by the Ottoman world from the 17th century to the early 19th. This collection, which presents a vast visual panorama of the last two centuries of the Ottoman Empire, includes works by *Osman Hamdi*, regarded by art historians as the genre's only "native Orientalist" and of course his most famous painting *The Tortoise Trainer*.
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TUNEL
Tunel is on of the oldest and most probably the shortest underground railway in the world. It was built in 1873 by French engineers and has a length of about 500 meters. Most foreign businessmen and all the foreign embassies moved to Beyoglu Istanbul. However, business, offices and companies stayed in Karakoy (Galata). The primarily purpose of the construction of this small subway was to avoid climbing up and down. There is no chance to get out at the wrong station, for there're only two, one in Karakoy (Galata) and one in Beyoglu at Tunel Square end of Istiklal Street.
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WHIRLING DERVISH HALL
Museum of Divan Literature Istanbul is originally a Galat Mevlevihanesi - Whirling Dervish Hall and still preserved as such. Whirling dervishes took their name from the great Sufi poet and mystic, Calaleddin Rumi (1207-73), with their major aim being the mystical communication with God. But for the acolytes of Calaleddin Rumi, it was more than just a matter of spinning for God; the entire 'sema' (ceremony) involved chants, prayers and music before the Mevlevi 'tarakat' whirled themselves into a trance-like union with God.
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SAINT ANTOINE CHURCH
Located in Istiklal Street in Beyoglu, the Saint Antoine Church is on the left side of the street if you are facing from Galatasaray towards Tunel. Construction began in 1906 and the church was completed in 1912. Its architect, Giulo Mongeri, who was born in Istanbul, gave it an Italian Neo-Gothic style. Today it is Istanbul's largest church with the busiest congregation and is run by Italian priests. The Church was built in a courtyard. The entrance of the church in on the main street between two apartments which were built to earn money for the church.
