Galata Surları’nın Yıkım Süreci

Abstract

The ramparts and rampart gates that were damaged by fires and earthquakes during Ottoman Empire period, had been undergone repairs because of the danger that they created, and continued to survive. With the westernization applications in the beginning of 19th. century and after the “Şehremaneti” was established as a first step of municipal organization, the demolition decision for ramparts was taken by 6th. Municipality Department, which was founded as a model department, by asserting some reasons. With the sale of land resulting from demolishing ramparts and filling of trenches located in front of these ramparts, constructing stone buildings and wide roads just like in Europe and attaining a western view of the region were envisaged. Nearly 30 years after the demolition decision, ramparts were began to be qualified as ancient monuments, and decisions were taken to demolish those that were badly damaged while to protect those that were in good condition. When maps prepared in 19th and 20th century are examined to observe the demolition process of ramparts, it is understood that the ramparts were mostly standing in the middle of 19th century, while they were mostly demolished in the beginning of 20th century. During the 50 years period after the demolition decision was taken, it is seen that ramparts were demolished although the protection was mentioned 30 years after the demolition decision. By the period of the republic, very few remnants were left over from Galata ramparts. During the expropriations and constructions for boulevards in Menderes period, a bastion on the Kemeraltı Street had been destroyed just like other buildings on the route of these roads. Nowadays, some buildings on the route for “Haliç Subway Transit Bridge Project” are expropriated and demolished, and the future of rampart pieces which are left over after demolition is uncertain