Anatolian Fortress (Anadoluhisar) is a small fortress located in the Asian part of Istanbul on the shore of the Bosphorus Strait opposite Andoluhisar, near Asomati, where Byzantine prisons were located. This fortress is considered the oldest structure of Turkish architecture in Istanbul. To the north of this fortress is the viaduct of Sultan Memed Fatih.
Anadoluhisar was built on the initiative of Sultan Bayezid the First during one of the sieges of the city in 1393 and was intended for the siege of Constantinople. The fortress is located on an area of 7000 square metres at the narrowest point of the Bosphorus (only 660 metres wide). The Anatolian fortress was later fortified by Sultan Mehmed II, who made this decision in order to block the Bosphorus and thereby blockade Constantinople from the north. In 1452, a new fortress of Rumelihisar, and all shipping through the Bosphorus Strait thereafter came under the absolute control of the Ottoman Empire. The Bosphorus itself was particularly important to the Genoese in Galata, who were allied with the Byzantines and had Black Sea colonies such as Cafa, Sinop, and Amasra.
Also the Anatolian fortress was used as an observation post. Three watchtowers were built around the fortress. Because of these changes, it did not retained its original appearance. With the fall of Constantinople, the fortress became a prison.
Originally, the fortress was named "Güzelje Hisar" and was located on the very closest coastline. Its dimensions were slightly smaller than the Rumeli fortress on the on the opposite shore. The construction of the fortress was widely spread and greatly away from the seashore. There were a large number of summer villas, which belonged to prominent statesmen and military officials of the Ottoman Empire. In the next part of the Bosphorus, there are mainly modern residential neighbourhoods and fishing villages where you can eat fresh fish and other seafood. By the way, the rivers Goksu and Kukuksu rivers, which flow nearby, are called by Westerners no other than the "Sweet Waters of Asia".
Every detail of this grandiose structure is astonishing in its utmost craftsmanship and elegance. The territory of the fortress can be accessed through entrance, which is located near the carriageway. The main entrance leads to a beautiful A beautiful garden leads to the main entrance, through which tourists and visitors can enter the spacious hall and then to the drawing room where visitors used to be received. The grand staircase is a majestic and truly breathtaking sight. Close by a large kitchen, with a fine dining room and a bar, perfect for dinner parties or parties in a sophisticated atmosphere. The view from the living room on the ground floor over the waters of the Bosphorus is breathtaking. All windows are framed by beautiful wood shutters. The spacious bedroom is complemented by two dressing rooms (male and female) and a bathroom. To the right of the staircase, the other two bedrooms are also surprisingly large. The top floor apartment is a studio-type rooms with their own bathroom, living room and kitchen. It is not unreasonable to note the fact that all bedroom windows also overlook the Bosphorus Strait. The basement floor has been equipped specifically for entertainment and recreation. Here game rooms and a massive billiard table. From this room you can to a cosy home theatre. On the right side of the staircase is the laundry room and the central heating room. There is also a bathroom and a small kitchen.
The unique location in the heart of the Bosphorus and the truly royal luxury of the of this palace makes it a valuable find for even the most demanding of travellers. In 1991-1993, the fortress was restored and converted into a museum, closed to the general public.
