The bosphorus jewel if you stand an any point along the edge of the bosphorus, in the central part of istanbul, you will see a small tower stuck seemingly in the middle of the water. Join an experienced guide for a leisurely tour of istanbuls top sights, including dolmabahce palace, eyup mosque, camlica hill and the maidens tower. As the symbol of uskudar, the maidens tower is one of the monuments remaining from the byzantine era until today. For 15 turkish lira, you can ferry across for a visit. Landscape, tolerance, and national identity in istanbul university of georgia press, 2010 248 pp. The maidens tower, also known as leanders tower tower of leandros since the medieval byzantine period, is a tower lying on a small islet located at the southern entrance of the bosphorus strait 200 m 220 yd from the coast of uskudar in istanbul, turkey. With our price match guarantee and 247 social support, youll always travel with peace of mind.
Today, the maidens tower serves little purpose other than touristic. The four seasons hotel istanbul at the bosphorus, 2 miles 3 kilometers away, is one place to start looking. Daytime excluding mondays a cafeteria will serve at the maidens tower between 12. It was built over a small rock located over the border of marmara sea and bosphorus it also takes place between asian and europan continents. Maidens tower, kiz kulesi, one of the best places to see on the asian side of istanbul. The bottom floor converts into a restaurant at night and, at the top, theres a nice and very expensive cafe, as well as a platform which offers a unique view of the bosphorus.
Maidens tower a trip to istanbul your guide to istanbul. The maidens tower, also known as leanders tower tower of leandros since the medieval byzantine period, is a tower lying on a small islet located at the southern entrance of the bosphorus strait 200 m 220 yd from the coast of uskudar in istanbul, turkey maidens tower kiz kulesi, is one of turkeys most exciting tourist attractions. Maidens tower began as station for ships to stop and resupply, or to be stopped and inspected before proceeding further into the bay. This magnificent structure stands on an unimposing rock at the entrance of the bosphorus. The building youre seeing is maidens tower, or kiz kulesi, in turkish. Maidens tower uskudar, istanbul lovers meeting point. The present stone tower was built during the reign of ahmet iii in 1719. Maidens tower maidens tower is one of the iconic landmarks of istanbul which draws in attention by its charming image, beautiful scenery and touching stories dedicated to it. More istanbul famous landmarks view larger map the maidens tower, also called leanders tower, or tower of leandros, is near istanbul, turkey. Elektra captures m and holds her hostage in the tower, and later, both bond and christmas are brought to the island in elektras boat. Thus, sharing its history with the very history of istanbul, the maidens tower has stood witness to many events and has very much been a part of every time frame.
It is approximately 200 meters away from the coast of uskudar and can be. The history of the maidens tower, which is located off salacak coast and near the anatolian side of. Your istanbul welcome card marine officer will welcome you at the pier and help you on the boat, hand you over our bosphorus tour plan and explain you what will see on the boat. About the maidens tower, famous traveler evliya celebi says, it is a fourcornered, high tower made artistically at sea at an arrow shooting distance from the land.
Visit kiz kulesi on your trip to istanbul or turkey inspirock. As turkish legend has it, an emperor was visited by an oracle upon the birth of his daughter. Maidens tower, istanbul uskudar updated 2020 restaurant. This structure has inspired many poems and has been featured in many movies.
Sep 4, 2015 a stunning historical monument, full of legend, right in the middle of bosphorus strait. The maidens tower innerstaden, sweden atlas obscura. Leanders tower or in other words maidens tower is another famous spot for lovers to meet if they like to get a cup of coffee or have a romantic dinner. Make kiz kulesi part of your personalized istanbul itinerary using our istanbul trip builder website. The maiden tower istanbuls historic tower located on the. Istanbul is a huge city that has witnessed hundreds of love stories in its long history. I draw paintings on paper cups to travel the world.
Situated as a landmark between europe and asia, the tower sits on a small rocky islet in the middle of the mighty bosphorus river. The legends surrounding the tower have intrigued the public for hundreds of years. In his seyahatname book of travels, evliya celebi described the maidens tower. An iconic landmark on istanbuls skyline, the maidens tower has a rich history dating back to the fourth century, as well as a few legends adding to its fame. The oracle warned the emperor that his daughter will be bit by a venomous snake on her eighteenth birthday, so he ordered the. Kiz kulesi represents a place shrouded in history and legend. A stones throw off the coast of uskudar, the maidens tower is one of istanbuls most.
Leanders tower istanbul tour studio istanbul guide. This time, we would like you to experience a spectacular panoramic view of istanbul asia, the sea of marmara and the princes islands. Maidens tower or leanders tower or as called in turkish kizkulesi is constructed 2500 years ago. Uskudar salacak mevkii, 34668 uskudaristanbul, turkey maidens tower contact number. The story of the tower has shown up in different forms. Find premium, highresolution stock photography at getty images. Reportedly dating back to 24 bc, as with many historical sites in turkey, theres more than one legend associated with k. You dont have to shell out for a peaceful night s sleep. While the hagia sophia and the blue mosque often get top billing in the tourism circuit, the maidens tower, or k. The legendary maidens tower of istanbul from blog turkey homes. Not only do maidens tower photos make it into every istanbul marketing campaign, but the mystical setting means that it has also featured in other modern tales first as an important location in the 1999 james bond film, the world is not enough, and later in the video game, assasins creed. Its history spans both empire and republic, and the tower on a small islet in the marmara sea.
Maidens tower, whose history goes back 2500 years hosted a number of different civilizations for centuries. In addition to being an iconic landmark of istanbul, maidens tower is the subject of various myths. Maidens tower what to do in istanbul, istanbul daily. Dated to around 1100 ad, the actual year of creation is a bit hazy, lost to history like so much else in the area. Maiden tower is located on a tiny isle to the southwest of bosphorus on the asian side. Today it houses a cafe and restaurant, and is a wellknown landmark that has appeared on everything from the turkish banknotes to james bond movies. The older name leanders tower comes from another story about a maiden. Dated back to old times, to 2500 years ago, that unique construction have witnessed the all history of istanbul. It is situated on a very small island at the bosphorus straits south entrance, about 650 feet from the uskudar coast. The dome of hagia sophia is in front of you with all its glory. Turkeys history encapsulated in istanbuls maidens tower. The maidens tower, also called leanders tower, or tower of leandros, is near istanbul, turkey. According to one tale, hero, a virgin priestess of aphrodite lived in the tower. Maidens tower professional istanbul local guide find.
Jul 11, 2017 the maidens tower photograph by dorota yamadag. Visit kiz kulesi on your trip to istanbul or turkey. Evilya celebi, the ottoman traveller and author of travelogue seyahatname or book of travel has his own story about the maidens tower. Maidens tower, istanbul part 1 elektras hideaway for the finale of the world is not enough is located in the bosporus strait of istanbul, namely the famous maidens tower. Some sultans used it as an excursion spot or a recreation area. Maidens tower in istanbul purchaselicenselabel restrictedassetlabel. The maidens tower stands right in the middle of the bosphorus in istanbul. Another legend wrongly mentions hero and leander in the tower, therefore some people wrongly call it leanders tower, a sad love story told by ovidius. After the naval victory at cyzicus, the ancient athenian general alcibiades possibly. The history of this place started hundreds years b. An iconic landmark on istanbul s skyline, the maidens tower has a rich history dating back to the fourth century, as well as a few legends adding to its fame.
Its history dates back to the 12th century, although the current stone structure. The maiden tower istanbuls historic tower located on. Need a great deal on a hotel near maidens tower, istanbul. The maidens tower, constantinople, looking towards the golden horn overall size of print is approx 10cm x 28cm with large margins, perfect for mounting for home, business, interior decorators, hotels, pubs, boardrooms and restaurants. According to an old greek myth, the girl who is believed to have held the flashlight for her lover, who comes to see her each night, swimming across the bosphorus, has caused her lover leandros to get lost in the sea after the flashlight died down. The history of the maidens tower, the pearl of the bosphorus. On another side is the galata tower of the genoese. Discover the maiden s tower in innerstaden, sweden. Jun 15, 20 today, the maidens tower serves little purpose other than touristic.
The most popular story says that the tower at the southern entrance of the bosporus was built by an emperor as a sanctuary for his daughter, whose death was prophesized by an oracle. The most interesting mission of the maidens tower in history is its use for the isolation of patients during a plague epidemic in istanbul in the 19th century. With its past beginning from in ancient time, to byzantine empire from ancient greek and to ottoman period from byzantine time, in all periods of history of maidens tower have arrived at today from past. The historical maidens tower is one of istanbul s unique beauties. The maidens tower was also used for cannonry for various religious and diplomatic ceremonies. Legendary love story of galata tower and maidens tower. Join one of the best bosphorus boat tours in istanbul and admire the cosmopolitan city from a completely different perspective while enjoying the beautiful views of the orient and the occident at the same time. I study turkish language teaching in istanbul university.
Alone and enchanting in the bosphorus, the maidens tower is a building that has. The maidens tower is a small building on shape of lighthouse, resides in a little island near from the asian side in the bosphorus crossing of istanbul. Uskudar salacak mevkii, 34668 uskudar istanbul, turkey maidens tower contact number. Today, the first floor of the tower has a restaurant and the top has a. A brief history of the maidens tower in istanbul culture trip. Turkish history is full of mysterious stories and legends. History after the naval victory at cyzicus, the ancient. One of the most iconic buildings in all of istanbul, the maidens tower is a must visit. About the history and love story of hero and leander i wrote at my previous blogs.
When nighttime arrives in istanbul, the maidens tower is illuminated in a golden glow that reflects on the surface of the famous bosphorus strait. It is approximately 200 meters away from the coast of uskudar and can be reached only by boat in a few minutes. Kizkulesi is located off the coast of salacak neighborhood in uskudar district, at the southern entrance of the bosphorus. If you stand an any point along the edge of the bosphorus, in the central part of istanbul, you will see a small tower stuck seemingly in the middle of the water. Like many of the buildings in istanbul, the maidens tower succumbed to natural and. Maidens tower what to do in istanbul, istanbul daily city. All inclusive bosphorus dinner cruise with turkish night show from istanbul book with viator from. Visit the palace and the mosque, learning from your guide about the history of the city, from the time of the byzantine and ottoman empires to the present. See more ideas about historical monuments, tower and istanbul. Jul 11, 2017 salacak, more than the maidens tower posted on july 11, 2017 by goreme1990 located on the asian side of istanbul, the neighbourhood of salacak runs along the edge of the bosphorus from uskudar all the way to harem. Known locally as the jungfrutornet, this medieval tower hides a dark legend. Maidens tower, istanbul ticket price timings address. The wooden tower caught fire while on duty lighting the way for passingby ships was gutted. Im a selftaught artist who lives in the heart of istanbul.
Your istanbul welcome card marine officer will welcome you at the pier and help you on the boat, hand you over our bosphorus tour plan and explain you what will. Located on a tiny islet off the asian side of istanbul, the tower has an intriguing background worth exploring. Salacak, more than the maidens tower inside out in istanbul. The maidens tower is also called leanders tower by european historians. One of the symbols of istanbul, the maidens tower or leanders tower or k. One of the most iconic images of istanbul has to be the k. Mar 15, 2015 maidens tower, istanbul part 1 elektras hideaway for the finale of the world is not enough is located in the bosporus strait of istanbul, namely the famous maidens tower. The most prominent two buildings of the city, galata tower and the maidens tower, are starring in this story. The use of the site of the current tower began in roughly the 5th century bce.