Etfal Hospital Clock Tower, Ottoman clock tower at Etfal Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
The Etfal Hospital Clock Tower is a stone structure built in the Ottoman style with a working clock mechanism and decorative carved details. It stands as a separate element on the hospital grounds, clearly displaying the craftsmanship of its period.
The tower was built during Sultan Abdul Hamid II's reign, a period when the Ottoman Empire sought to modernize and build new structures across its lands. This era brought architectural changes that showed the empire's openness to Western influences and methods.
The tower shows how Ottomans adopted European clockmaking technology and built it into their own structures. It became part of a wider shift where modern timekeeping changed how people organized their daily routines.
The tower sits within the hospital grounds and is viewable from several vantage points around the area. Visiting during hospital visiting hours makes access easier and allows you to see the tower while observing normal facility operations.
The tower still functions today and keeps time for hospital patients and visitors passing through the grounds. This makes it a rare example of a historical clock tower that has not been isolated as a museum piece but remains embedded in the daily operations of a modern medical facility.
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