The Maiden’s Tower is located in
Üsküdar, 150-200 meters off the coast of Salacak. Although there is no exact
information about when the Maiden's Tower was built, some sources say that the
tower’s architectural construction goes back to 341 BC.
Previous names of the Maiden's Tower
include Damalis and Leandros. The name Damalis was the name of the wife of
Kharis, the Athenian King of the time. When Damalis died, she was buried on the
shore, and the tower was given this name. In addition, the tower was also
referred to in Byzantine times as Arcla, meaning “small castle”.
Throughout history, the tower was
subjected to many restorations and renovations. It has also witnessed the rise
and fall of many civilizations. The name Kız Kulesi (Maiden’s Tower) is now an
integral part of the tower’s identity. A restoration process was initiated in
1995. After a mysterious history spanning thousands of years, this magical
tower opened its doors to visitors in 2000 after restoration work was complete.
With its unique identity and traditional architecture, Kızkulesi now serves
local and foreign visitors as a cafe-restaurant during the day and as a private
restaurant in the evening. The tower hosts many special events such as
weddings, meetings, launches and business dinners.
