A medieval Genoese tower in the Galata section of the Beyoğlu district of Istanbul, Turkey. Situated on a high hill in the European part of the city, the Galata Tower has been used as a prison, a lighthouse, a fire tower, and an observatory at various times. There are nine floors inside, most of which are occupied by an archaeological museum. The exhibition is dedicated to the history of the tower on Galata Hill: from the times of the Byzantines to the Ottoman Empire.