Walls of Istanbul - The Belgrade Gate

Once the capital of the Byzantine Empire, Istanbul was surrounded by approximately 20 kilometers of walls. This line of defense protected the city from countless attempts of conquest by many nations from the Huns to the Russians for more than 1000 years, from the 5th century to 1453.

These Byzantine ruins that spread over the historical peninsula of the city are examined in three sections as land, sea and Golden Horn; approximately 6.5 kilometers of the line are in the form of land walls. The other walls are based on the defense of the city against attacks from the sea by extending along the shores of the Golden Horn and the Marmara Sea. The walls on the land are still standing partially or significantly in many parts of Istanbul today and draw attention with their gates, most of which were built during the Byzantine period.

For trade, military or routine reasons, the passages between the interior and exterior of the land walls were made through the gates opening to the walls. Before the conquest of Istanbul by the Ottoman Empire in 1453, it is known that there were 45 gates on the walls. 11 of the gates, most of which were closed after the conquest, are open and can be visited today. One of these gates is the famous Belgrade Gate.

The Belgrade Gate was known as the "second military gate" during the Byzantine period. However, it is thought that it may have been used by the public as well as for military purposes… The gate takes its name from the fact that most of the people brought to Istanbul after the conquest of Belgrade of Ottoman Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent in 1521 were settled near the gate. The door, which had been closed for centuries, was opened in 1886 to facilitate pedestrian access to the hospital just below.

The defense towers on both sides of the Belgrade Gate and the walls are in good condition with the restoration recently. As a feature not seen in many walls and gates, it is possible to climb over the walls by using the stairs on the right and left when you enter through the Belgrade Gate.

Hadim Ibrahim Pasha Mosque, a work by Mimar Sinan, located close to the gate can also be seen closely. The Belgrade Gate Monument, which was built to represent the Turkish, Greek, and Armenian citizens living in Zeytinburnu in 2001, is also remarkable.