PodcastFirst images of Istanbul’s famous Maiden's Tower revealed after renovation
The final state of Istanbul’s Maiden's Tower was revealed after the renovation that started in 2021. The famous tourist attraction is expected to open in the first week of May. The Culture and Tourism Ministry has announced that the tower will be used solely for touristic visits as a historical monument after the renovation
Duvar English
The restoration works of the Maiden's Tower (“Kız Kulesi”), one of the symbols of Istanbul with a history of 2,500 years, continue. With the removal of the scaffolding around the tower, the final form of the famous tourist attraction was revealed.
The Maiden's Tower is scheduled to open in the first week of May, according to Demirören News Agency (DHA).
The Culture and Tourism Ministry initiated the renovation of the tower in 2021. In the same year, the ministry announced that the tower should undergo frequent repairs because of the destructive effects of humidity, salinization, and waves due to its location in the middle of the sea.
Built in the 5th century as a unique architectural piece in the world, the Maiden's Tower has been used for different purposes for centuries. Byzantine Empire used the tower for the control of Bosphorus traffic. After the conquest of Istanbul by the Ottoman Empire, it was used as a fortress and a lighthouse to guide sea transportation. In the 19th c., the Maiden's Tower was even used as a plague and quarantine point.