Galata is located at the north side of the Golden Horn. Galata was surrounded by the walls, constructed by Genoese, until the 19th century. These walls started at Azapkapi near Golden Horn, The Galata Tower was the observation tower and the walls go down to Tophane from this point.

Its name was Sykai (Fig field) during the Byzantine period. It also was called "Peran en sykais" in Greek, which means fig field of the other side. Its name Pera which was used by Levantines came from origin. The origin of Galata was either galaktos (milk in Greek) or calata (stairway) in Italian.

Galata is on the European side of the Istanbul both geographically and culturally. It was established as a western, Latin and Catholic colony right next to Constantinople, capital of the Eastern Orthodox Byzantine Empire. Its governments changed hand between Venetians and Genoese, but it always remained Latin and Catholic. This did not change after conquest of Istanbul. However, Sultan Mehmed the Conquerror made this a residential area for Greeks and Jews. Even though this made Galata a non-Latin place, it was still a non-Muslim are next to the capital of Islam.

Therefore, "the other side" does not only mean the other side of Golden Horn, but it also means other side culturally. Sometimes the people of Galata sided with the enemies of Istanbul. The first time Galata betrayed the locals was when the Latins occupied Istanbul in 1204. Galata helped the Latins during this occupation, and Istanbul was pillaged by Latins. That incident was one of the reasons of the decline of the Byzantine Empire.

Galata was not faithful to the Ottoman Empire either. Galata was important center to govern the "capitulations" which caused to decline of Ottoman Empire. The Empire had large debt from Galata’s bankers since the beginning of the 19th century and that econamically pillaged the empire. Also, Greek bankers of Galata suppoerted Greece in its independence from the Ottoman Empire.

Glata has been a very active business center since its establishment. It also was a night life cebter with its taverns which attracted the Muslim population, too. But Galata lived its golden years during second half of 19th century. Foreigners and minorities gained some new rights with Sultan Abdulmecid’s political reforms of 1839 in addition to the capitulations. This quickly created wealth and enhancement for Galata.

In 1860 the area inside the Genoese walls was not large enough for Galata. So the walls were destroyed and Galata was enlarged and Istiklal street (of today) and Grand Rue de Pera, called by Levantines became luxury district. First , there were foreign embassies and churches. Then, big houses, luxury apartments, shopping centers, an d entertainment and art centers were built on Istiklal street. Residential houses follwed this. The people called this area Beyoglu, which was enlarged Galata called Pera by Levantines.

In a short period the infrastructure problems of the new district were solved. Streets were covered by rocks, sewage systes were enlarged, electricity, water and natural gas network were laid down, and trams pulled by horses were put into service for public transportation. Most important of all, the third oldest metro of world was opened in Galata.

Gatala was a finance center with its bankers and stock exchange. Its harbor was one of the busiest harbors of Europe. The Grand Rue de Pera or Cadde-i Kebir became a shopping center second only to the Grand Bazaar. The imported European goods were brought not only by Levantines, but also by western sympathisers. It was also an entertainment center with its cafes, theaters, bars, opear houses, restaurants and pastry shops. Ottomans liked the way of living in Pera so much. Because Ottoman people were learning how to eat, drink, dress, entertain and talk like westerns from the Levantines and Europeans in Beyoglu.

Galata was a cosmopolis. Mainly French, but also almost all other European languages were spoken there. Italians , Germans, French, British, Armenians, Greeks, Jews, Hungarians, Poles and Russians had their own communities. Each community had its own places of worship, not only based on its religion but also based on its different sects. Therefore, many churches and synagouges of different groups were located close to each other.

Despite the fact that the existence of many Muslim people and places in Galata like Galata Mevlevi Convent, Arab Mosque, Asmali Mosque, and Aga Mosque, theses were hardly enough to change the Galata’s western characteristics.

There were aslo many foreign education centers in Galata. French,British,Italians,Germans and Austrians opened high schools in Galata. The rich and nobe muslim families, along with the Levantines and minorities, sent their children to thoses schools. Most of the Ottoman and Turkish scholars were educated in theses schools.

Galata was always different. It did not even share the same faith with other districts of Istanbul. While Istanbul was in poverty and political chaos during the Balkan War, Galata was experiencing its golden age. These spoils of World War I flowed to Galata. Beyoglu was revived by the arrival of White Russia. Its entertainment center for foreign forces while Istanbul was under occupation. But after the war, during the first years of republic, the gorgeous Pera of Levantines slowly declined.