Istanbul City Walls

Since Constantine the Great made Constantinople the new capital of the Roman Empire, the city has been encircled and guarded by a network of defensive stone walls collectively known as the Walls of Constantinople. These walls were the final great fortification system of antiquity, and one of the most intricate and complex systems ever constructed, with numerous additions and modifications made throughout their existence. At first, the walls built by Constantine the Great protected the new city from invasions from both the sea and the land. The Theodosian Walls, a renowned double line of fortification, were added in the fifth century as the city expanded. While other parts of the fortifications were simpler, they were still nearly impregnable to medieval attackers when well-manned. These walls saved the city and the Byzantine Empire during sieges by various forces such as the Avar-Sassanian alliance, Arabs, Rus', and Bulgars. However, in 1453, Fatih the Conqueror succeeded in conquering the city. Travelers can now visit the walls after extensive restoration work by the Turkish government, giving them a chance to learn more about their fascinating past and formidable defensive prowess.