The Maiden’s tower (Kız Kulesi) is a lighthouse at the Bosporus in Istanbul, Turkey. It is located on a very small island 180 meters away from the Asian side, close to Üsküdar. It dates back to the 18th century and has served for different purposes over time. Today you can go by boat to the tower and within it there is also a restaurant and a coffee bar.
In fact there are two legends concerning Kız Kulesi: it is currently called Maiden’s tower and there is a story told all over Turkey that an emperor received the prophecy that his daughter will be killed on her 18th birthday by a snake. That is why he built the tower on the island to protect her. It is said that on her 18th birthday he brings a fruit basket to the tower as a present and – hidden in it – a snake.
The second name of the tower is Leander’s Tower refering to the Greek myth of Leander who swam every night to his great love, the priestess Hero – directed by a light on Heros tower. But one night the light is blown out by the wind and Leander drowns. Kız Kulesi was visible in 1963s From Russia with Love and became a film location in The World Is Not Enough (1999).
Üsküdar Salacak Mevkii
34668 Üsküdar/İstanbul
Turkey
https://muze.gen.tr/muze-detay/kizkulesi
http://www.kizkulesi.com.tr
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