The Tophane Fountain, Tophane Çeşmesi in Turkish, is one of the most beautiful free-standing fountains in Istanbul. Sultan Mahmud I had it built in 1732 in the Tophane district, which takes its name from the neighbouring Ottoman cannon foundry. The square building of white marble is crowned by a wide overhanging roof and a small dome. Each side has a tap and basin, above which finely carved reliefs of flowers, vases and fruit bowls cover the façade – a typical example of the playful style of the period, in which Ottoman forms met European influences. Inscriptions in elaborate calligraphy praise the founder and water as a gift to the people. Fountains like this once supplied the neighbourhood with drinking water and were also an expression of the sultan’s charity. The fountain stands just a few steps from the Kılıç Ali Pasha Mosque and pairs well with a stroll through Karaköy.