The famous Maiden’s Tower in Istanbul, one of the most recognizable landmarks of the most populous city in Turkey, was officially opened tonight, after a two-year break due to restoration, reports Anadolia.
The girls’ tower was opened tonight with a light and laser projection.
The restoration process removed the subsequent upgrades that were not in line with the character of the tower, and after a two-year closure, the tower is open to visitors again today.
“While we are restoring iconic buildings, we are changing their functionality, especially in tourist regions, making them open for citizens to use,” Turkish Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said earlier, recalling that the tower dates back to 410 BC.
As a result of the works, visitors will be able to enjoy an unobstructed view of Istanbul from the wooden terrace and staircase of the tower.
In addition to the restoration, the project took precautionary measures against earthquakes.
There are numerous legends about the construction of the Maiden Tower and its location. According to the most popular Turkish legend, the Sultan had one daughter whom he loved very much. One day, he is told that his daughter will die of snake venom on her 18th birthday.
To prevent this, the sultan hid his daughter far from the coast and placed her on a small island, where no snake could come. The princess lived in a tower, which the sultan built for his beloved daughter, and he often visited her.
On her 18th birthday, the sultan gave her a basket of exotic fruits as a birthday present, happy that he was able to prevent the prophecy. However, a snake was hidden in the basket that bit the princess, and she soon died in her father’s arms. This is why the tower is also called the Maiden’s Tower.
The Maiden’s Tower is an unmissable location for tourists from all over the world, millions of whom visit Istanbul every year. Most of them will be happy to come to the shore, where there is a wonderful view of the Maiden’s Tower, and there they will drink tea, feed the seagulls, and take a nice photo as a memory of this wonderful place.
The only city on two continents, at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, a mixture of historic and modern, Istanbul is a metropolis that leaves you breathless, regardless of whether it is history, a handful of sights and activities, or enjoying all the smells and tastes that this largest Turkish city offers.
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