Galata

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Galata
Photo Information
Copyright: Silvio Sorcini (Silvio1953) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2649 W: 134 N: 2212] (19874)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-04-20
Categories: Architecture
Exposure: f/11, 1/500 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): ancient towers from all the world [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-05-09 9:27
Viewed: 222
Points: 30
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note [Italian]
A view of Galata and it's tower from Bosforo.
Galata is a district in Istanbul, the largest city of Turkey. Galata is located at the northern shore of the Golden Horn, the inlet which separates it from the historic peninsula of old Constantinople. The Golden Horn is crossed by several bridges, most notably the Galata Bridge. Galata (also known as Pera back then) was a colony of the Republic of Genoa between 1273 and 1453. The famous Galata Tower was built by the Genoese in 1348 at the northernmost and highest point of the citadel.
There are several theories concerning the origin of the name Galata. According to the Italians, the name comes from Calata (meaning downward slope) as the district is sloped and goes downwards to the sea from a hilltop. The Greeks believe that the name comes either from Galaktos (meaning milk, as the area was used by shepherds in the early medieval period) or from the word Galat (meaning Celtic in Greek) as the Celtic tribe of Galatians were thought to have camped here during the Hellenistic period before settling into Galatia in central Anatolia. The inhabitants of Galatia are famous for the Epistle to the Galatians and the Dying Galatian statue.
In history, Galata is often called Pera which comes from the old Greek name for the place, Peran en Sykais, literally 'the Fig Field on the Other Side'. Much later in Byzantine times Galata became significant as the site of the Megalos Pyrgos (Great Tower) from which an iron chain could be raised in times of war to block entry to the Golden Horn. This tower was destroyed during the Fourth Crusade in 1204, but a new tower was later built by the Genoese on a different nearby site as the Christea Turris (Tower of Christ) and survives to this day (see: Galata Tower). From 1273 to 1453, when it was captured by the Ottomans in the Siege of Constantinople, 'Pera' was a Genoese colony. The ruins of the Palace of the Genoese podestà Montano de Marinis, known as the Palazzo del Comune (Palace of the Municipality) in the Genoese period and built in 1314, still stands in a narrow street behind the famous Bankalar Caddesi (Banks Street) which was the financial center of the Ottoman Empire and has rows of Ottoman-era bank buildings, including the headquarters of the Ottoman Central Bank. Several ornaments which were originally on the facade of the Genoese Palace were used to embellish these 19th century bank buildings in the late Ottoman period. Another famous building in Galata is the Church of St. Paul (1233) which was built by the Dominican priests of the Catholic Church during the Latin Empire of Constantinople (1204-1261). The building is known today as the Arap Camii (Arab Mosque) because it was given by Sultan Bayezid II to the Arabs of Spain who fled the Spanish Inquisition of 1492 and came to Istanbul.
At present, Galata is a quarter within the borough of Beyoğlu in Istanbul, and is known as Karaköy.
Galatasaray S.K., one of the most famous football clubs of Turkey, gets its name from this quarter and was established in 1905 in the nearby Galatasaray Square in Pera (Beyoğlu), where Galatasaray Lisesi (Galatasaray High School), formerly known as the Mekteb-i Sultani (School of the Sultans) also stands. Galatasaray literally means Galata Palace.
Henryk_Bilor, cobra112, dip, paololg, COSTANTINO, azaf1, Valerka, Silversnow, mvdisco has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Silvio
Nice capture of Galata/Calata ;). Interesting composition with the old city and modern ferries. Good light too.
Regards

Hi Silvio! Excellent view picture by Bosforo, Beautifully cruises boat. good view and very beautiful travels. Dream your picture and the chromatic balance full stop, I praise you.
Georgios

Helo Silvio
Istambul is one amaizing city and he have more citizen than Serbia thogeter
Great shoot
TFs
Cheers,Braca

Panorama variopinto e completo dove l'antico contrasta con le ultra moderne navi da crociera.

Roberto

  • Great 
  • dip Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1530 W: 0 N: 662] (7048)
  • [2008-05-09 13:35]

Hi Silvio,
wonderful photo from Istanbul,
great lighting,good clarity and excellent point of view,
very well done!
Ciao,
Dimitris.

Ciao Silvio,
fanno impressione queste grosse navi,fanno sembrare la citta' piccola.
ottimi colori
ben fatto
Giorgio

Ciao Silvio,
che stupendo mosaico di colori! POV perfetto per questa immagine, con una piacevole definizione dei dettagli. Complimenti.
Ciao
Paolo.
( per Castelluccio ti faccio sapere )

good pano format, well managed light, the colours are excellent, i like the red spot in bonus with the cheminey of the boat
regards
jo

  • Great 
  • azaf1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1214 W: 112 N: 1456] (7355)
  • [2008-05-10 0:40]

Ciao Silvio
A very nice depiction of one the most beautiful sights in the City, that of Galata Tower. I like it as it combines the ancient with the modern reminding as how transient people are
Compliments
Argiris

Ciao Silvio,
una bella vista della citta con tanti colori e con le navi da crociera che fano impesione,molto interesante la nota
cari saluti,
Buon weekend
Costantino

hi Silvio

Very nicely captured view of this great port. Very bright scenic feature.

tfs, bill
later

Ciao, Silvio,
You seem to have a nice stay in Istanbul with our TE-fellows.
I see, you've been impressed by this excellent city.
TFS
Valerka:)

Hi Sylvio,
Beautiful picture of the port and tower of Galata, nicely composed and presented with great colors and sharpness, Beautiful view and details..
Excellent done.
Michel

Ciao Silvio, Splendid colours in this lovely scene. Very interesting place I'm sure, thank you for an interesting & informative note.
Ciao
Santo

  • Great 
  • Wanda1 Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1112 W: 10 N: 1274] (6927)
  • [2008-05-13 22:58]

Hi Silvio,
A nice harbour scene with the white boat standing out from the brownish cityscape in the background. Panoramic format works well and I like your wide view.
Regards
Wanda

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