Istanbul was formerly known as Constantinople, Ancient Byzantium’s largest city and Turkey’s main seaport, and served as the capital of both the Byzantine and Ottoman empires. 

Istanbul’s ancient city sits on a triangle peninsula between Europe and Asia. For more than 2500 years, Istanbul has stood between competing waves of religion, culture, and imperial might. For the majority of those years, it was one of the most desired cities in the world, owing to Istanbul’s lengthy history as the hub of empires. Istanbul provides a richness of history and religion to take in. When visiting Istanbul, you should see the Maiden Tower, also known as Kiz Kulesi, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Sultanahmet mosque, and Basilica Cistern. 

Maiden Tower, also known as Leander’s Tower in Turkey, is situated on a tiny islet at the southern entrance of the Bosphorus strait, 200 meters from the coasts of Kadikoy and Üsküdar on Istanbul’s Asian side. Since the Byzantine era, there has been a tower on tiny islands along the shore of Uskudar at the southern entrance of the Bosphorus strait. “Maiden Tower” is the tale recounted here about the building in the waters of the Bosphorus strait, between myth and reality “Kiz Kulesi” glows on the Asian side of Istanbul‘s shore. 

Maiden’s Tower’s Untold Story

The most popular tale regarding the maiden’s tower’s building is that there was an emperor who adored his daughter and had a dream in which a snake attacked her and killed her on her 18th birthday. As soon as he awoke, he whisked his daughter away from dry ground to safeguard her in the middle of the strait from any snakes. Until she becomes 18 years old. The princess was put in the tower, where she was only visited by her father on a regular basis. The emperor gave the princess a basket of fruits as a birthday gift on her 18th birthday, pleased that he had been able to avert the prophesy. When the little princess reached inside the basket, a tiny snake that had been lurking among the fruit bit her, and she died in her father’s arms. Because of her father’s grief over her, the location was dubbed “the girl tower.” 

The tower remained abandoned for many years until it was utilized as a halt for ships crossing the Black Sea in 1100. It was utilized as a watchtower during the Siege of Constantinople in 1453, and it remained such until the earthquake in 1509. After being restored, it was utilized as a beacon until 1829, when it was converted into a quarantine facility. It has now become a tourist attraction, with tourists able to access it by boat in 10 minutes. 

There are other cafés and restaurants on Istanbul’s shore opposite the Maiden Tower that are popular with both visitors and residents who want to enjoy a beautiful panoramic view of the Maiden Tower. 

Today, the best way to serve you by the tower is to sit in front of it and stretch your legs in a very simple setting to drink tea, play “table,” or eat nuts or whatever you want, and watch the beuatiful Bosphorus.  Following this enjoyable and informative trip, you may visit the most significant tourist attractions in Istanbul that are situated nearby.