"E tanti sun li Zenoexi / e per lo mondo sí destexi / che und’eli van o stan / un’atra Zenoa ge fan." This anonymous rhyme, written in Genoa at the end of the thirteenth century, is repeatedly mentioned by researchers studying the Genoese colonies. However, the actual significance of "atra" here is far from clear, and this is emblematic of how differently Genoese presence in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea could be interpreted. Perhaps it does not so much emphasize the similarity of the colony (as another, one more Genoa), but rather the difference between colony and metropolis (another, different) – and thus, Genoese adaptation to local conditions elsewhere. This dichotomy can be observed in research on both the organizational and administrative structure of the colonies, and their cultural and artistic nature.
About 40 years have passed since the publication of "classic" works by Michel Balard and Paolo Stringa, but historical and archaeological research on the Genoese colonies has gained in speed, both in the East and West of Europe. This interdisciplinary conference focuses on historic, cultural and artistic aspects of Genoese colonies in the Eastern Mediterranean and in the Black Sea from the 13th to the 16th century and seeks to bring together researchers working in different countries and in various specializations.