The story of the girl's tower
There are many stories that have been told about the story of the Girl’s Tower (K?z Kulesi), which is immersed in the sea on the coast of the Asian side of the Turkish city of Istanbul, but this charming tower with its beauty still shines between myth and reality.

Many strange stories have been associated with the Maiden’s Tower, which kept it as a mystery at sea, and a special place that attracts Turks as well as thousands of Arab and foreign tourists, especially as it constantly witnesses a moment of life to a Turkish wedding party documenting the first moments of the two partners at that great tower.

But we will tell you the most famous tales about its construction, which are mentioned by Turkish official sources, which is that there was a sultan who loved his daughter very much, and he had a dream, which was that on her 18th birthday she would be bitten by a snake and take her life.

As soon as he woke up, he removed his daughter from dry land to protect her. He blocked part of the Bosphorus and built a tower for her in the middle of the strait, to protect her from any snake.

The Sultan's daughter received a gift, a basket full of fruit, in which was hiding a snake that crept into her and bit the girl and killed her.

Because of her father's grief over her, the place was named "The Girl's Tower", so that visitors to the tower would remember the lesson from this story that there is no escape from God's judgment.

Another novel

As for the other narration, it is a different story about the princess and the snake that killed her, and we narrate it to you as a matter of education and knowledge. It is narrated that the island used a temple for stranded monks for worship. In a small, modest building, a girl named Hiro lived in it, and on one of her tours outside the island she met a young Leandre and they fell in love from the first meeting, and because of the impossibility of a life that would bring them together, and because love was forbidden to Hiro in her worship, they met secretly every chance they had, and Leandor was swimming across the distance He meets Hero on her small, secluded island, and one rainy night he insists on swimming towards the island, and he is swept away by the water and drowns on his way to his lover. She could not wait for his band, so she committed suicide, and their story became famous throughout, and the place became a shrine for people to see the island that brought the two lovers together and separated them.

The tower, which is unparalleled, consists of 6 floors with a height of 23 meters, connected by a spiral staircase through which it is possible to move easily, to enjoy restaurants and cafes.

After that, the tower remained abandoned for many years, until it was used in 1110 as a station for ships coming across the Black Sea.

During the conquest of Constantinople in 1453, it was used as a watchtower and remained so until an earthquake in 1509 destroyed large parts of it.

After repair, it was used as a lighthouse until 1829, when it began to be used as a quarantine.

In 1832 it was restored by Sultan Mahmud II, who added steel supports around it, as a precaution against earthquakes.

Nowadays, it has turned into a tourist attraction that visitors can reach by boat in a journey that takes only 10 minutes.

There are also cafes and restaurants on the opposite coast of the tower, whose patrons come to enjoy the view of the tower in a charming panoramic manner, especially as it is an attraction for lovers in Istanbul.

girls tower pictures

The girl's tower from the inside
Inside, there are a number of restaurants that you can go up to via a spiral staircase, which serve various meals and foods through an extensive menu of traditional local Turkish cuisine in a picturesque atmosphere.

You will also see models embodying the story of the girl, especially the story of the princess and the snake that killed her, and other paintings that express the story of the tower and the stories and legends associated with it, until you reach the top of the tower, which will amaze you to see the wonderful view of both sides of Istanbul.

There is also a telescope installed there in which you can see the city closely, where you will see clear landmarks such as the Dolma Bagha Palace, which is rich in more than 55 thousand historical masterpieces, the Sultanahmet area, the Hagia Sophia Mosque, and the Muammar Sinan area, in addition to watching the merchant ships. Giant as it crosses the Bosphorus very close to the tower.

The most important activities when visiting the girl's tower
In 2000, the Girl's Tower was opened to be a restaurant in addition to being a shrine for tourists who wish to view the tower from the inside.

To go to the restaurant, you have to make a reservation before your arrival, as it serves lunch, dinner, wedding parties and iftar dinners in Ramadan.

Its menu consists of luxurious old Ottoman food and fine service, and you can go to the restaurant from the KABATAS area at the head of every hour from 9 am to 6 pm.

The tower allows you to take charming memorial photos while you are in the middle of the sea, behind you is the Asian side, and in front of you is the European side, where the scene is charming as you take your photos and in front of you are the minarets of the ancient Istanbul mosques that embrace the sky.

We note that on the promenade of the Maiden Tower on the Asian side, there are many wooden benches along the Bosphorus pier.

You can also have breakfast, lunch or dinner in peace and comfort in the restaurants that overlook the Girl's Tower.

You will also enjoy buying some food or souvenirs from the street vendors, which are spread along the Corniche pier.

Frequently asked questions about the girl's sign in Istanbul
1. Where is the girl's sign located?
The tower is located on the Asian side of Istanbul, between Uskudar and Harem, on the beach opposite old Istanbul, where the Istanbul sun sets in its arms.

2. How do I get to the Girls Tower?
The tower can be reached in more than one way, and perhaps the most famous of them from the European side is from the “Yenikapi” area by taking the “Marmaray” subway, and getting off at the “Uskudar” station for a 10-minute journey on the metro.

It is also possible to board ships that transport passengers from the European section to the Asian side, specifically trips to Uskudar from the Eminonu region.