Ahırkapı Lighthouse

Ahırkapı Lighthouse located within the boundaries of Ahırkapı quarter of Fatih district in Istanbul stands out as a lighthouse serving both the Bosphorus and the Marmara Sea. The lighthouse, which is 36 meters above sea level, has a great significance in terms of being a route lighthouse for the ships passing through the Bosphorus and entering the Port of Istanbul, apart from its touristic importance

The original lighthouse, which was built during the reign of Osman III. and greatly damaged by fires afterwards, was made entirely of wood. Ahırkapı Lighthouse, which was rebuilt in 1855 afterwards corresponding to the reign of Sultan Abdülmecid, is under protection by the General Directorate of Coastal Safety and Ship Rescue Operations as a "national heritage" as of today. 

Ahırkapı Lighthouse won the title of being the first lighthouse built in Istanbul during the Ottoman period when it was first built. The lighthouse, which was built on the bastion in the Otluk Kapısı area, was badly damaged as a result of the fires in this area. Ahırkapı Lighthouse, a masonry stone tower with a height of 26 meters, was brought from Paris when it was rebuilt in 1857, and the lighthouse was given a 16-mile vision range. The glassed light on the balcony part, which resembles a minaret balcony at first sight, is definitely worth seeing.

Ahırkapı Lighthouse, where the gas oil lamp with wick is used as the light source and later switched to the LPG-source sleeved and bright light lamps, today serves with a thousand watt electric lamp. Another interesting detail about the lighthouse is that it was used as a barracks area during World War I.