The iconic Maiden’s Tower, or Kız Kulesi, has reopened after a massive restoration project that returned it to its original structure dating from 1725. It originated as a lighthouse and sits on an islet in the Bosphorus Strait, the legendary body of water that flows through Istanbul and connects the Black Sea to the Mediterranean. The 300-year-old tower is both a historic monument and a museum marking the centenary of the Republic of Türkiye.
The restoration was carried out in less than two years, amid difficult weather conditions in the middle of the sea. Archeologists, scientists, historians and artisans relied on both ancient and modern data for the repairs. Utilizing records dating back to the 1700s, 16 tons of steel and 500 tons of reinforced concrete were ripped out and replaced with the original materials outlined in the historical documents. The interior and exterior of the Maiden’s Tower were completely revitalized, with new terraces, walkways and stairs installed for visitors. The restoration project was led by the Turkish Ministry of Tourism and Culture.
A much-loved symbol of Istanbul, the ancient tower has also spawned various legends – from a king building the tower to protect his daughter from the fates to a powerful love between a nun of Aphrodite and a man who swam across the ocean to visit her every night, guided by the light of the tower. The tower also has a star-crossed love of its own, with the Maiden’s Tower and the city’s Galata Tower ‘gazing at each other’ for centuries, but unable ever to meet because of the Bosphorus separating them.
Entrance to the Maiden’s Tower Museum is free. It is open daily from 9am to 8pm and is accessible by ferry from both the European and Asian sides of the city.
