Fortress of Europe also called The fortress of Europe. Rumeli means Roman which Ottomans called European side of city with this name. The fortress is situated at the narrowest point of Bosphorus which is 660 meters. The fortress was built by the order of the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II in 1452, just one year before he conquered Constantinople. It completed in a short period, four months and the aim was to control the sea traffic in Bosporus from the north. During the siege of Constantinople in 1453, it played a strategic role for the Ottoman army. Since it is the narrowest point of Bosporus it was really easy to control and block sea way.
The three great towers of the fortress were named after the three viziers (ministers) of Mehmed II, Sadrazam Çandarlı Halil Pasha, Zağanos Pasha and Sarıca Pasha.
It is standing against great Bosphorus as a one of the symbol of the city.
