Lovers told its story and others started their story from it the Tower of Secrets and the Keeper of the City of Love, Istanbul “Maiden’s Tower” is your favorite destination, lover, whatever your story is.

The Maiden’s Tower… Istanbul’s most famous lighthouse

Alone, standing in the sunset of the city, witnessing its tales and legends since time immemorial

It is where the legends of love began, and to this day it is the place where the sacred eternal bond is culminated Maiden Tower.

There is no confirmed date for the construction of the Maiden’s Tower, but most studies suggest that it was built in the period of about 300 BC.

As is its history, the reason for its construction is also unknown

The island on which it is based constitutes another mystery in itself, as it has not been confirmed whether it was formed as a result of natural factors or whether it is man-made.

Due to the paucity of information about him

There were many narrations about its story, as it was rumored that a ruler built it for his only daughter to live in, in order to protect her from death by a snake bite, as some prophecies came.

The most famous and influential story is the story of (Hero and Leandor), a love story that led to the death of its two heroes in a scenario similar to the story of (Romeo and Juliet), the most famous lovers in history

Where it is told that Hero and Leandor used to meet secretly on this small island, witnessing their forbidden love. and that Leandor was coming to her swimming, on a windy day the waves took him to his death while he was going to meet his beloved Hero, swimming as usual.

It was only Hero to give her body to the sea as well, so that she might find her lover in another world.

The Maiden tower underwent several collapses, restoration and modification operations until it reached its known form today

Like any historical landmark in Istanbul, it witnessed the change and succession of empires over it

It was used in the time of the Byzantines as a station for ships and was known as (the small castle).

Then, after the control of the Ottomans, a wooden tower was built in it, but it was destroyed in 1719 AD after it was devoured by fire

As a result, the famous Ottoman builder (Ibrahim Pasha) saw enabling the construction of the tower and giving it a solid structure, which is the tower that exists today.

As for the tower’s pillars, they were added by order of Sultan (Mehmed II), which have protected the tower until now, despite the earthquakes that affected the city several times, when it was used as a library.

The beginning of republican rule, the island was turned into a quarantine area until the year 2000 AD, when the place was opened as a tourist attraction by order of the country’s government, and it is so until now.

The “Maiden Tower” is located on an independent island at an intermediate point between Uskudar and Harem, close to the Asian side of Istanbul. You can also see Hagia Sophia, Sultan Ahmed Mosque and the Topkapi Palace located on the European side from it.

At the top of the tower there is a tourist restaurant where wedding parties are often held due to the place’s association with love tales.

And as is the case in most tourist areas in the city, the place opens its doors during official working hours in the country

Going to it is not free, as you should book in advance with a symbolic amount not exceeding 4 dollars to be able to visit it.