The Maiden’s Tower/Kizkulesi (also known as the Tower of Leandros) is an iconic landmark in Istanbul’s skyline! Located on a small island, approximately 200 meters from the coast of Salacak neighborhood in Uskudar district, at the southern entrance of the Bophorus, the Asian side of Istanbul, the Maiden Tower is the pearl of the Bosphorus.
The Maiden’s Tower dates back to 5th century BC. But several restorations in wood and stone were done and the Tower served for many different purposes, such as a watchtower, a quarantine hospital, a lighthouse throughout her history and now it serves as a classy restaurant since 1998.
Offering 360-degree view of the Bosphorus and the old town on the European side, the Tower is one of the must-visit attractions in Istanbul. The Tower was featured in some films too, including James Bond – The World is not Enough. You can reach the Tower by boats from Salacak neighborhood.
Besides its rich history, there are many ancient myths and legends about the construction and location of the Tower, adding more to her fame. The most popular one is: A king, who had a beloved daughter, heard a prophecy that she would be killed by a snake on her 18th birthday. So, the king had the tower built in the middle of Bosphorus and decided to place her daughter away from the land, thus no snake could kill her. Well as we all know it is almost impossible to escape from the destiny after all, except for some miracles…
When you see her from a close distance and watch the old town and the Bosphorus from the top of the Tower and explore all those interesting ancient legends behind the Tower, you will fall in love with this glorious city, Istanbul, once again.
