A Bit of History - The Galata Colony In the early 11th century after the crusader troops, some small Liguria communities settled in Syrian and Palestinian harbours where Genoa the Proud had gained some land and customs grants in reward of the military support they had provided to win back the Holy Land. Starting from the 12th century true colonies settled in many places in the Near East, especially on the Black Sea, at the time called the “Genoese lake”. Soldiers, seamen, adventurers and even members of the merchant aristocracy settled in the overseas colonies, thus establishing a bridge between east with its silks and spices and the Western Mediterranean civilization. One of the most important colonies was Galata – now a district in Istanbul. Still today the Galata Tower dominates the Golden Horn and reminds us a Genoese grandeur.