The Maiden Tower in Istanbul has reopened as a museum. — Handout
Kiz Kulesi in Istanbul, Turkiye is welcoming visitors once again.
Located on a small islet closest to Istanbul’s Asian side or Anatolia, the ancient tower – “Kiz Kulesi” is Turkish for “Maiden’s Tower” – appears to delicately float on the Bosphorus, much like a maiden awaiting her fate.
Thanks to the Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry’s restoration project to preserve the tower, which kicked off in 2021, Kiz Kulesi has a bright future ahead, reopening as a monument museum.
The Maiden’s Tower was initially constructed in the 5th century just off the coast of present-day Uskudar as a customs checkpoint – an iron chain that extended from the tower to another tower on the peninsula. It controlled which ships were allowed passage through the Bosphorus Strait.
Over the centuries, the tower’s function has changed, from watchtower to lighthouse to radar station to restaurant, and now, a museum. It has even appeared in several Hollywood films, most notably James Bond films like The World Is Not Enough and From Russia With Love.
But how did it come to be known as the Maiden’s Tower? According to one legend, a soothsayer prophesised that a king’s beloved daughter would be killed by a venomous snake on her 18th birthday.
To protect her, the king built the tower and kept her there, and was the only one allowed to visit. On the princess’ 18th birthday, the king brought her a basket of fruits to celebrate. However, an asp that had been hiding among the fruit bit the princess, who died in her father’s arms, just as the soothsayer had predicted.
The tower is also known as Leander’s Tower, which is based on a Greek myth. A priestess named Hero lived in a tower near the Dardanelles, a strait that is the northern counterpart of the Bosphorus.
Her lover, Leander, would swim across the strait every night to see her, and Hero would light a lamp at the top of the tower as a beacon to guide his way. Kiz Kulesi was likely linked to this myth due to the similarities between the Dardanelles and the Bosphorus, which together form the Turkish Straits.
Today, the tower is a popular spot for tourists and locals alike, thanks to its captivating 360° views of the Bosphorus and the old city, especially at sunset. You can easily reach the islet from the private shuttle boats that operate at regular intervals from the docks of Kabatas and Uskudar or from the Galataport pier.
The Maiden’s Tower Museum is open daily from 9am to 8pm. Admission to the museum is 400 lira (RM78), plus a 50 lira (about RM10) transportation fee. Museum Pass Turkiye holders can enter for free, but will still need to pay the transportation fee.
