European Cities with Seven HillsFatih Gürcan

Why Seven Hill ? Number “Seven” is a important symbol for various civilization. In Ancient World, “Seven” was the symbol of invulnerability and perfection.Many Cities in the world claimed that they have been built on seven hills. The term of “City of Seven Hill” emerged in Rome. Legendary twin founders of Rome, Remus and Romulus wanted to build strong city that can protect itself from the pirates. Only a city has seven hills was suitable for this.

Founders of Rome: Capitoline Wolf(Lupa Capitolina), Romulus and Remus

Rome has built on sevenHills. The city was near the Tiber River. Rome was not coastal city But Rome has a harbour City: Ostia(Today it is a beach). Seven Hills of Rome are : Aventine Hill, Caelian Hill,Capitoline Hill,Esquiline Hill, Palatine Hill,Quirinal Hill, Viminal Hill.

City Walls of Rome • The First Roman City Wall

had been built by King Servius Tullius who was the sixth king of legendary “Seven King Period”. It has been used more than eight centuries. Emperor Auerilan renewed the walls because of barbar tribes thread to Rome. That walls are nearly 19 km. long and still some parts are standing

Istanbul: Seconda Roma or Constantinopolis

World was changing so the RomanEmpire had to change. Emperor Constantine changed the capital. He had built a new city made it capital of the Roman Empire (AC 330). It was in the European side of the Bosphorus. This great city earned several names: Nova Roma, Seconda Roma,Constantinopolis, Mikagrad, Tsargrad, Asitane, Islambol, Belde-i Tayyibe , and finally Istanbul.

Istanbul WallsAlthough the real founder of Istanbul is thought Emperor Constantin, city also has a history before him. Megerans built first walls and Septimus Severus expanded them. But Constantinian Walls more stronger and bigger. But They included only four hills of he city. The last walls had been built (finished AC 448) by Byzantine Emperor II. Theodosius

Istanbul’s Hills IAfter Theodosisus II, city completed in historical peninsula all of seven hills are surrendered with walls. Early Byzantines uses the first hill (Hagia Sophia-Sacred Palace)330-1081 as the city center, Late Byzantines chose sixth hill which includes Khora and Blakhernai Palace 1081-1204,1261-1453

Istanbul Hills IIAfter the conquest of city by Ottomans first hill became again city center, Topkapı Palace had been built. Seven big mosques had built all seven hills:1st Hill:Sultanahmet Mosque -Hagia Sophia2nd Hill Nuruosmaniye Mosque (Forum Constantine)3rd Hill Suleymaniye Mosque (Great Nymphaeum)4th Hill Fatih Mosque (Old Holy Apostels Church)5th Yavuz Selim Mosque (Cistern of Aspar)6th Mihrimah Mosque (Khora- Blakhernai )7th Cerrah Pasha Mosque (Cistern of Mocius)

Lizbon Seven Hills, A Myth? Rome and İstanbul are the most popular seven hill cities. But Lisbon has also seven hills. 7 Hills first mentioned in 16th century And became popular. But

this is not a myth. Probably it is a effect of Roman Era because of similarity of two cities.

Seven Hills Of Lisbon

1)Colina de Sao Jorge 2)Colina de Sao Vicente3)Colina de Sao Roque4)Colina de Santo André5)Colina de Santa Catarina6)Colina das Chagas7) Colina de Sant’Ana

Barcelona Spanish- Catalonian City Barcelona is also one of city whichHad built on seven hills. Carthaginian Leader Barca found the city but Romans used the city as a castrum (defensive base). The first hill and Settlement of the city was Mons Taber. City expanded gradually became one of the most important City in South Europe and Mediteranean Region

Seven Hills Of Barcelona

1)Mont Taber Hill2)La Rovira Hill3)El Coll Hill4)El Carmel Hill 5)El Putxet Hill 6)Montjuic Hill 7) La Peira Hill

Brussels

Brussels is capital of Belgium, EU and NATO and it is also made of seven hills. Brussel is medieval City. It became an important settlement in 10th century. City’s first walls were built early 13th. century and than expanded att the end of 14th Century.

Seven Hills Of Brussels1)St. Michielsberg2)Coudenberg3)Warnoesberg4)Kruidtuin Hill5)Kunstberg (Art Hill)6)Zavel Hill7)St. Pietersberg * Berg mens hill in German

Moscow: The Third Rome

After Decline of Byzantine Empire Russian Grand Duke III. Ivan announced Moscow as the

Third Rome. In fact it was a political claim to strengthen Russian influence in Europe. As Rome and Istanbul, Moscow has Seven Hills.

Seven Hills Of Moscow

1)Borosvitsk Hill (Kremlin)2)Tver Hill3)Sretensky Hill4)Tagansky Hill5)Vvedenskiye Hil6)Lefortovo Hill7)Vorobyovy Hill

BambergBamberg is a German medieval city, which is in Bavaria- Franconia.City is known “Franconian Rome”. City’s first settlement in Cathedral Hill after that expanded to Michaelsberg. Bamberg is in UNESCO ‘s World Heritage list.

Seven Hills Of Bamberg

1) Cathedral Hill2) Michaels Hill3) Kaul Hill4) Stefans Hill5) Jakobs Hill6) Altenburger Hill7) Abts Hill

Iassy(Iaşi)

Iassy is a Romanian city which isnear the border with Moldovia This is not a incidence because Iassy was the capital of historical Principality of Moldavia. This medieval city is a Romanian cultural and built on seven hills.

Seven Hills Of Iassy

1) Galata Hill2) Frumoasa Hill3)Bucium Hill4) Repedea Hill5) Breazu Hill6)Copou Hill7) Şorogari Hill

PlovdivPlovdiv is a Bulgarian City whichs Name come from Philippolis (City of Philip) Plovdiv is a multi-cultural city that contains different civilization’s monuments. City has been administred by Tharicans, Ancient Greeks, Romans, Slavs, Turks and Bulgarians. Plovdiv also has seven hills.

Seven Hills Of Plovdiv

1)Markovo Tepe2)Dzhendem (Hell) Tepe3) Bunardzhik Hill4)Saat Tepe5)Nebet tepe6)Chanbaz Tepe7)Taksim Tepe* Tepe means Hill in Turkish

ConclusionSeven hill term is an important symbol for many cities. Except the cities mentioned above many other cities in the world have seven hills or claimed to have seven hills : For example Budapest, Jerussalem, Cagliari,Amman and San Franscisco However, historical sevenhill concept emerged in Roman Empire and and still reminds firstly Empire’s capitals Rome and Istanbul.