The southernmost section of the land walls was not only a fortress but also featured seven towers, serving multiple purposes, providing defense, celebrating the Byzantine conquest, and housing dungeons for political prisoners, including the Sultan himself. Inside the complex ran a street called Via Egnatia, which once led all the way to Rome, the capital of the empire.After Constantinople became the new capital, Theodosius II built additional walls with a grand ceremonial gate known as the Porta Aurea, or the Golden Gate. This gate was primarily used for triumphal processions and took its name from the gilded decorations that adorned it.The Ottomans added three additional towers to the existing Roman ones, which gave the fortress its name “Seven Towers”, or Yedikule in Turkish. It later served as a garrison and housed the Imperial Treasury. In the 17th century, it was transformed into a notorious dungeon, marking a tragic end for Osman II, who was imprisoned there after attempting to curb the power of the Janissaries.In the wake of the Industrial Revolution, the walls lost their defensive function, and new houses were built within the courtyard. Today, the only remaining example of the civil structures is the mosque at its center. The museum also features a café and hosts open-air events throughout the year.