The silent witness of the Bosphorus: The Maiden’s Tower
The stories behind these historical structures add to their allure and the Maiden’s Tower has an extraordinary tale. Set on a small island off the coast of Salacak, in Üsküdar, the legend of the Maiden’s Tower dates to the fifth century BC. Now considered a symbol of Üsküdar, the Tower was erected in the 12th century by the Eastern Roman Emperor Manuel I Komnenos as part of the city’s defenses; since that time it has served as a customs station, a place of exile, and a lighthouse. In antiquity, the island was a tax station for ships passing through the Bosphorus. In 1509, the Tower suffered severe damage in an earthquake; repaired, it was destroyed by fire in 1721. In subsequent years, the Tower underwent numerous renovations and repairs and, in 2021, restoration works once again commenced.
Aside from its construction history, the Maiden’s Tower is the subject of legends. The most famous of these is that of the King’s Daughter. The king was told by a fortuneteller that his daughter would die after being bitten by a snake. To protect her, the king had the Maiden’s Tower built and placed the princess there. And yet, in one of the food baskets sent to the Tower for the princess was a snake; the princess was bitten and perished. Another fanciful depiction of the Tower refers to the love between the Maiden’s Tower and the Galata Tower, which face each other across the Bosphorus. Separated forever by the strait, the two towers are described as two lovers who can never meet but will gaze longingly at each other for eternity.
Today, private boats offer passage between the Maiden’s Tower and various points along the coastline.
A romantic silhouette: Galata Tower
İstanbul is adorned with historical towers. One of the most famous of these towers and a popular tourist destination is, of course, the Galata Tower! One of the oldest towers in İstanbul and the world, the Galata Tower proudly greets the Maiden’s Tower and the Historical Peninsula from the Beyoğlu district.
An iconic structure of İstanbul, the Galata Tower was erected between 1335-1349 by the Genoese, allies of the Byzantine Empire. Deployed for various purposes over the centuries, the Galata Tower, following the conquest of İstanbul by the Ottomans, served as a supply warehouse, a fire watchtower and a prison. It was damaged during the major earthquake in 1509 and in a great fire in 1831 and has undergone repairs and some architectural changes as well. It became a touristic structure following restoration works in the mid-1960s and was included on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List in 2013.
Of course, many legends have circulated about the Galata Tower, with its cone-shaped roof, arched windows and brick works visible from every side street in Galata. The most famous of these is the story of Hezarfen Ahmet Çelebi’s story: according to legend, Hezarfen Ahmet Çelebi flew across the Bosphorus on wooden wings he had created, intending to reach Üsküdar on the opposite shore and deliver the love letters written by the Galata Tower to the Maiden’s Tower. However, the wind blew the letters from Hezarfen Ahmet Çelebi’s hands into the water. Fortunately for all involved, it is believed that the Maiden’s Tower knows the love of the Galata Tower even without the letters.
Another story about the Galata Tower is this: it is said that the person with whom you first ascend the Galata Tower is the person that you will marry. If the couple do not wed, it is said that they must have encountered an obstacle during the climb. We are simply relating the story: it is up to you to believe it or not!
The center of weather forecasts: Beyazıt Tower
In the Fatih district of İstanbul is the wooden Beyazıt Tower. Built in 1749, the Tower was deployed to monitor and report the fires that frequently occurred in the city.
The Tower itself has also been damaged by fire at various times but it served another purpose as well; it was used as a weather notifier. Blue illumination indicated clear weather for the next day; green suggested rain, yellow predicted fog, and red lighting forecast snow. In the section of the Tower facing Beyazıt Square, there is an inscription with the signature of Mahmud II.
Intersection of the city walls: Mermer (Marble)Tower
The Mermer (Marble) Tower is located where the sea and land walls intersect. One of the oldest towers in İstanbul, the four-story Tower features a central courtyard and marble blocks. Its trenches, walls and ramps indicate that it was used for military purposes, while the cisterns and various architectural details later added to the interior suggest that it was also used as a residence.
Captivating architecture: Dolmabahçe Clock Tower
The Dolmabahçe Clock Tower is one of the most magnificent edifices in İstanbul! The Clock Tower, set between the Bezmialem Valide Sultan Mosque and the Dolmabahçe Palace Sultanate Gate, was commissioned by Abdulhamid II and built by architect Sarkis Balyan between 1890-1895. The 27-meter-tall neo-Baroque and Empirical style Tower, in all its magnificence, embraces the Beşiktaş district of İstanbul and welcomes guests to the Palace.
In the heart of Beşiktaş: Yıldız Clock Tower
Also known as the Hamidiye Clock Tower, the Yıldız Clock Tower is part of the Yıldız Palace in Beşiktaş, İstanbul, and sits southwest of the courtyard of the Yıldız Mosque. The Tower’s exterior features an inscription, as well as a thermometer and a barometer.
