Rumelihisari (Rumeli Fortress), Istanbul

Rumelihisari (Rumeli Fortress), located on the European side of the Bosphorus, was built by Sultan Mehmet II in 1452. The fort was built in preparation for the conquest of then Constantinople and to block any possible attack from the Black sea. The fortress was strategically located opposite the Anadolu Hisari on the Asian side of the strait to halt the passage of foreign ships and to prevent any aid coming to the falling Byzantine empire. This beautiful piece of architecture was built in a very short span of just 4 months and 16 days and spreads across 16 acres of land. It includes a small tower, three main towers, watchtowers, a small mosque and a mini-amphitheater. After the extensive restoration work carried out in 1955, Rumelihisari was thrown open to the public as an open-air museum displaying the various weapons and canons that were used in the conquest.

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