Galata
Galata, one of the four administrative districts of Constantinople, is located across the historic Golden Horn. The name, speculated to come from the Greek word Galatai, meaning the Celtic tribe of Gauls, attests to the long history of the area going back to the Hellenistic period. Galata is recognized today mostly by its cylindrical tower with a conical top, completed in 1348 by the Genoese. The bridge, also captured in this postcard, is symbolic of the close link between the Old City housing the imperial palace and the district of Galata, an area largely populated by non-Muslims. Galata still preserves its amalgamation of many ethnic groups from the Roman Catholics to Jews, evidenced through the medieval buildings such as the Arab Mosque, built in 1325 as the Church of San Domenico, and a number of synagogues. Galata’s diversity validates Mehmed’s closeness and tolerance of minority groups before and after the siege.