One of the symbols of Istanbul is the Maiden's Tower, which stand out for its specificities. This is not the only name for this earthly beauty, as it is known as the Tower of Leandros or Bosporus Tower.
The tower is on the Bosporus, at the entrance of the Harbor, on a small island, just enough to take this romantic and fascinating building. The Turks call it Kiz Kulesi, which can help you find a direction where to go and search for this impressive achievement, which dates from the 12th century. As the original tower suffered the pressures for centuries, in the 18th century was replaced by a new one, and today proudly stands as a symbol of beauty in the middle of the Bosporus. The Maiden's Tower is not a big tower that looks like a defensive fortress. It is a small achievement, once used as a watchtower and a control center, while today it serves as a place where tourists can enjoy the restaurant in the middle of the sea.
Like any historical heritage, Maiden's Tower has its own story. One says this was the place where Leander was lighting a fire to illuminate his path to the girl Hero, a priestess of the goddess Aphrodite. When one night the light from the tower disappeared due to the wind, young Leander drowned, and Hero's gone for him, sacrificing her life for the sake of eternal love. Another legend says the tower was home to the beautiful Byzantine Princess whose father closed her here to protect her from the prophecies to die of a snake bite. Although he wanted to protect her, Hero’s father brought the snake by accident in a basket with fruits when on her 18th birthday he went for a visit.
Furthermore, it is good to see some bigger and perhaps even more beautiful places, such as the Rumeli Fortress, Dolmabahce Palace or the Anatolian fortress, the one that preceded the conquest of Istanbul.