One might wonder what the Renaissance genius Leonardo da Vinci could have dreamt for İstanbul. The story goes back to 1502 when Leonardo da Vinci submitted a design for a bridge to Sultan Bayezid II. due to the request of the Sultan for a bridge to connect the Golden Horn to Galata. This bridge design would have been the longest in the world at that time which is 280 meters.
Leonardo da Vinci sent a letter to the Ottoman Sultan about the details of his design. A copy of the correspondence was found in the Topkapi Palace archives in 1952. The correspondence says:
“I, your faithful servant, understand that it has been your intention to erect a bridge from Galata (Pera) to Stambul… across the Golden Horn, but this has not been done because there were no experts available. I, your subject, have determined how to build the bridge. It will be a masonry bridge as high as a building, and even tall ships will be able to sail under it,” the letter said.
And he continued with his vision for İstanbul:
“I plan to build a suspension bridge across the Bosporus to allow people to travel between Europe and Asia. By the power of God, I hope you will believe my words..” he added, signing the letter “Architect/engineer Leonardo da Vinci.”
His vision for İstanbul was revolutionary as there was no suspension bridge in the world at that time and the first suspension bridge would not be built until 400 years after the letter.
Unfortunately, Leonardo’s design for the Golden Horn was not selected but his vision of a bridge connecting the two continents were realised after five centuries.
500 years later, engineers at MIT tested Leonardo da Vinci’s design and have concluded the structure would have been structurally sound.
Turkish architects have imagined how the bridge would have looked like if it were realised.
When I look at the vision of Leonardo for İstanbul 500 years ago, I can not stop thinking how progressive his design is even for today!
