Maiden’s Tower (also known as Leander's Tower (Tower of Leandros), Turkish: Kız Kulesi) is a tower which is famous for its legends and located just in the middle of the Bosphorus. It is 150-200 meters away from Uskudar seashore and there are private boats from Salacak and Ortakoy seashore to the tower everyday.
It isn’t definite exactly when it was builded. Firstly, the tower is used for Damalis’s grave who is the wife of Ancient Greek King Kharis. After that, it is used for custom station in Byzantion times. After the conquest of Istanbul by the Ottoman, tower is used for a defense tower, quarantine hospital, exile place. It was rebuilt from stone by the Ottoman. Ottoman’s pulled a chain between European Side & tower and allowed the passage of ships from that closest distance.They used tower for tax collection area from merchantman. All of these times, tower is used as a lighthouse. The tower is restored in 2000 and transformed to a cafe and restaurant.
There is a great chandelier at the entrance
of tower
The view of Topkapı Palace from the balcony of Maidens Tower
The view of Topkapı Palace from the balcony of Maidens Tower
After your tower trip, you can pass and sit Uskudar shore. You can drink hot drinks(tea,coffee or sahlep) in cold days and enjoy lovely view of Maiden's Tower.
A view from Uskudar shore while drinking my delicious and hot sahlep
A cup of happiness Photo by Atakan ASRAK -- National Geographic Your Shot
Forever Stone A cup of happiness Photo by Atakan ASRAK -- National Geographic Your Shot
The stone ,which contents infinity
sign on, isn't known how long it has been outdoor of Maiden’s Tower. This stone symbolizes continuity. Also, couples
who touch to stone together are believed their love lasts forever.
Ottoman Tughra (Sultan’s signature)
During the restoration time between
1832-1833, there is an Ottoman Tughra in a triangle marble box on the top
of the column entrance. The tughra was made
by the famous calligrapher Rakim with gold and stamped in 1248 according to Islamic Calender.
Painting of the Legend of Leandros
The Legend of Leandros
A young man named Leandros falls in love with a pristess of
Aphrodite, named Hero. Hero lives in the Maiden’s Tower. Every night, Hero
builds a fire in the tower .Leandros may find his way to her by swimming to the
tower. They meet every night. One night, fire is put out by rain and storm.
Leandros loses his way and dies in cold water. After storm ended, Hero finds dead
body of Leandros on rockies. She can’t endure and commits suicide.
Painting of the Princess Legend
The Princess Legend
Once upon a time, a soothsayer makes the prediction to the King that his daughter will die as a result of a snakebite. Thereupon, the King has a castle built in the sea in order to protect his daughter. Time passes and the girl grows up in the castle. However, the prediction made by the soothsayer was inevitably comes true as a snake hiding a fruit basket carried to the princess bites and kills her.
Painting of the Battalgazi Legend
The Battalgazi Legend
A man named Battalgazi falls in love with the daughter of the tekfur, a Christian ruler of a town or a locality. However, he does not bestow his daughter to Battalgazi, and to protect her, places her in the tower. Battalgazi attacks the tower and abducts the girl. He mounts his horse with the tekfur’s dauhgter and rides away very quickly. There is an expression, “he who takes the horse got by Üsküdar” which comes from this legend.
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