Kilitbahir Fortress

In 1463 Sultan Mehmet II fearing that the Venetians might make an attempt to seize Constantinople built two fortresses on the Dardanelles: Kale Sultanieh on the Asian coast and Kilitbahir on the European one. The Venetians referred to the two fortresses as i Castelli (the castles).

Kilitbahir is an extraordinary fortress characterized by a unique design: the image used as a background for this page shows a sketch of its layout. The sultan's architect worked with his compasses to draw elaborate curved lines which perhaps explain the name given to the fortress: Kilitbahir (Key of the Sea).