THE POWER OF DESTINY Maiden's Tower - the lonely guardian of the Bosphorus and a legend that never dies

(Patria) - As Istanbul awakens under the gentle morning light, the Bosphorus is quiet and calm, as if guarding a secret that the Maiden's Tower (Kız Kulesi) has carried in its stone heart for centuries.



Lonely on a rock, right at the entrance to the Sea of Marmara, this small but enchanting structure is still one of the most recognizable symbols of the city. Patria's journalist arrived here by boat from Üsküdar, among passengers who, just like us, wanted to touch the legend for a moment.

The tower was originally built in the 12th century, by order of the Byzantine Emperor Manuel I, who wanted a strong point at this location for a chain to close navigation of the Bosphorus in case of danger. The underwater remains of the then fortification are still clearly visible today, reminding of the long and turbulent history of a city that has always been a crossroads of worlds.

Centuries later, the Ottomans turned it into a fortress, reinforced it with stone walls, and mounted cannons. The wooden structure burned down in a great fire in 1721, but by 1763 it was converted into a new, recognizable tower 18 meters high – the version we know today.



However, what visitors most often seek is not just history, but legend.

The most popular Turkish story says that a sultan, desperately wanting to save his only daughter from a prophecy that she would die from a snake bite on her 18th birthday, decided to hide her from the whole world. He built a small fortress in the middle of the water, convinced that no snake could swim to it.

On her birthday, the sultan personally went to the tower, bringing her gifts, food, and a basket full of fruit. A snake was hiding in that basket. It bit the princess, and the prophecy came true – right in his arms.

Throughout its long history, the Maiden's Tower has been many things: a tomb, a military fortress, a customs office, a quarantine station during epidemics, and even a lighthouse. Each era has left its mark.



Today, after renovation, it has been transformed into an elegant facility with a restaurant and a viewpoint offering perhaps the most beautiful panoramic view of Istanbul. Boats from Üsküdar transport visitors every few minutes, and when the tower approaches and the boat gently bumps against its small pier, the feeling is almost cinematic.

At the top of the tower, where the Bosphorus touches the horizon, Istanbul looks as if it has scattered all its colors just for you.

(A.Č.Z.)