Five Gates, officially known as Beşkapılar Castle, is a historic landmark in Foça, İzmir, and part of the town’s old walls. Its name comes from five adjoining arched gates, and its history reaches from Genoese repairs to Ottoman restorations. Five Gates is about a 12-minute walk from Limon Pansiyon.
- Location: Foça, İzmir, within the historic town walls.
- What to look for: the adjoining arches, the castle’s boathouse section and its courtyard theatre.
- Before visiting: check current opening and access details with Foça Municipality.
Where is Five Gates in Foça?
Five Gates stands in Foça as part of the town’s historic walls, and the municipality gives its address as Beş Kapılar Kalesi, Foça. The landmark’s Turkish name, Beşkapılar, means “five gates,” a reference to its adjoining arched entrances.
Foça Municipality’s culture portal identifies the historic walls as being on UNESCO’s World Heritage Tentative List. The castle is one part of that wider historic setting, rather than a separate site from the walls.
What can you look for at Five Gates?
Five Gates brings together a sequence of historical layers, with its arches, ramparts and former boathouse section offering the clearest points of interest.
Foça Municipality’s culture portal says the five adjoining arched entrance gates were added during Ottoman-period restorations, giving the castle the name Beşkapılar. The Foça District Governorate records an earlier episode: in 1275, Michel Paleok gave the castle to Genoese Manuel Zacharna, and the Genoese repaired it.
After Phocaea became Ottoman territory in 1455, the ramparts were repaired and fitted with towers. Nine towers can now be distinguished. The castle’s boathouse section is known as Beşkapılar, and an inscription records repairs there during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent in 1538–1539. The landmark was later restored in 1983 and 1994.
The former boathouse is used as an open-air theatre. Its courtyard theatre was designed to preserve the historic fabric, and the venue hosts festivals, concerts, theatre performances and international cinema events, with activity particularly in summer and autumn.
How do you walk to Five Gates from Foça town centre?
Five Gates is in Foça, but the official pages do not give a pedestrian route or walking distance from the town centre. If you are planning to walk from the centre, this guide to getting around Foça covers walking and local transport.
What should you check before visiting?
Opening hours, admission and visitor access details are not published on the official pages consulted, so check the official site before you go. Foça Municipality gives the venue’s address as Beş Kapılar Kalesi, Foça, but does not publish visitor opening hours or access rules there.
The pages also do not state an admission fee, an official visit duration or accessibility provisions for visitors with mobility needs. The castle is used as a cultural venue, including for events, so confirm the arrangements for your visit with Foça Municipality.
FAQs
Why is it called Five Gates?
The name refers to five adjoining arched entrance gates added during Ottoman-period restorations, according to Foça Municipality’s culture portal.
Is Five Gates part of Foça’s historic walls?
Yes. Beşkapılar Castle forms part of Foça’s historic town walls, which are on UNESCO’s World Heritage Tentative List.
What is the castle used for today?
The former boathouse section is used as an open-air theatre. The venue hosts festivals, concerts, theatre performances and international cinema events.
Are opening hours or admission fees published?
open 24 hours. The official pages consulted do not publish visitor opening hours or an admission fee. Check with Foça Municipality before visiting for current arrangements.