(day 7) Galata Tower

Due to Istanbul/Constantinople's strategic location at a junction between East and West, it naturally became a city where trade flourished. But the Byzantines were not the only people who had an eye on the potential gains from trade profits. Merchants from many neighboring city-states and empires also flocked to the city to share the wealth. In particular, Venetians and Genoese from what is now Italy (but at the time were just city-states) crowded into Constantinople in an attempt to dominate trade on the Mediterranean Sea.

Many of these foreigners -- Venetians, Genoese, and Jews -- situated themselves in Galata, the northern half of the European side (the European side is split in north/south portions by the Golden Horn, an inlet of water). A bunch of politics happened, the Venetians were ousted from the area, and Galata became a Genoese colony.

They stayed there for centuries, until the final Ottoman invasion of Constantinople, where Genoa responded to the declining empire's request for aid with 700 Genoese soldiers, but it was nowhere near enough to staunch the flow of Ottoman soldiers.

The Genoese built a large tower, Galata Tower, in order to strengthen the defense of their colony. From the top of the tower there is a panoramic view across the water, enabling them to spot foreign invaders. That original tower, having gone through the gauntlet of earthquakes, fires, and foreign invaders, eventually fell during the Fourth Crusade, but a new one was built in its place 1348.

That tower is still standing today, and dominates the skyline of the European (north side) coast of Istanbul, in the Beyoglu district. Galata is technically a "quarter" in the Beyoglu district, and is known in Turkish as Karaköy, or sometimes is referenced by its very old Greek name, Pera, short for Peran en Sykais, literally "the Fig Field on the Other Side."

The names are quite confusing, I can't figure out which geographical names refer to where, which are old and new terms, which are in which language. I guess that's what happens when you are in a city with such a diverse history.

I think it's cool though, that this neighborhood certainly has the most "European" feel to it. I suppose that even centuries later, the footprint of the Genoese colonists still remains here. Istanbul really is a hodge podge of so many different things.

I had seen Genoa Tower since the first day I arrived, and I was really excited to see it up close. It sticks out like a beautiful sore thumb, amidst mosque domes and minarets, this medieval, Renaissance-esque tower.

It looks like Rapunzel's tower smack dab in the center of a Middle East city! How curious.

Good thing it isn't Rapunzel's tower, there's no way she could fit that hair under a head scarf.

At the time it was built, it was the tallest building in Constantinople.

The line of tourists waiting to climb to the top. There is an admission fee as well.

Those of you that know me know that I refuse to shell out money to climb to the top of tall buildings, so I of course, passed. I hear there is a restaurant and cafe up there though, with a predictably stunning view.