Istanbul’s historic city walls, an ancient legacy dating back to Byzantine rule and the founding of Constantinople itself, have suffered serious deterioration over time and are now at serious risk of collapse, warns history expert and researcher Ömer Faruk Yavaşçay, who warns of deep cracks and advanced decay in various sections of the structure.
The land walls, partly destroyed by the specially designed cannons of Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror during the conquest of Constantinople in 1453, have managed to survive the regular earthquakes to this day thanks to the partial restorations they have undergone over the years. However, many of the walls are now so badly damaged that they look as if they are on the verge of collapse. Several towers have only one wall still standing, while others have vertical cracks running up and down them. “The advancing cracks could lead to serious destruction,” the expert said, calling for urgent intervention.
Aerial drone images captured in the historic district of Fatih clearly show large cracks in some towers and incipient separations in the stone masonry supporting the structures. “These structures are not only part of the cultural heritage of Istanbul, but also of the world. These walls, which have been standing from the time of the Eastern Roman Empire to the present day, are now unprotected,” Yavaşçay was quoted as saying by the İHA news agency.
An irreparable damage to world historical heritage
The Turkish researcher explained that the length of the walls surrounding the Fatih district – which encompasses Istanbul’s historic peninsula – is approximately 6.5 to 7.5 kilometres, with a height ranging from 15 to 20 metres. “These once mighty and majestic structures are now severely damaged. Some sections have collapsed, parts of towers are severely damaged and large cracks have formed in the central sections. Erosion and the growth of vegetation in green areas, especially inside the walls, are also causing structural weakening,” warned Yavaşçay.
The situation is aggravated in those areas through which hundreds of people pass every day: a possible collapse here would pose a serious risk to the safety of the population – in recent years there have already been deaths due to collapses – as well as an irreparable damage to the world’s historical heritage. According to this expert, Istanbul’s historic walls are of such value that they are of global interest: therefore, they should not only be preserved, but also restored in an appropriate manner so that they can be opened up to cultural tourism, as is already the case with the Great Wall of China.
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Edited and reviewed by:
Pablo Gómez is a specialist in Turkey and has been editor-in-chief of Hispanatolia since 2011. He has been analysing current affairs and geopolitics in Turkey and the surrounding region since 2006.
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