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Restaurant
Kiz Kulesi was built on the rocks of
the Asian shore at the mouth of the Bosphorus Strait by the Greek
commander Alkibiades in 419 B.C. to oversee enemies coming from
the Black Sea. Hundreds of ships and ferries sail past the
Maiden's Tower which for centuries has illuminated the darkness,
giving sailors a landmark by which to navigate. Today, Kiz Kulesi
is a romantic restaurant which was opened to the public just a few
years ago, boasting glorious 360º views of Istanbul. A trip to
Istanbul would not be complete without dining at this magical
tower.
History of the Tower
This romantic landmark is full of stories of romance and
intrigue. The oldest story surrounds a young man named Leander
who was drowned while swimming to reach to
his lover Hera, a priestess who lived in the tower. Upon
learning the fate of Leander, Hera threw herself into the water
and so the two lovers were united at last in death. Today, the
tower is know to many as Leander's Tower or the Maiden's Tower
because of this next story. According to
this story, an emperor was told by a
fortune teller that his daughter would perish by a snake bite. So,
he put his beautiful daughter in the tower for security,
but as fate would have it, a snake arrived
in a basket of fruit and
caused her tragic end.
Many myths and legends bear a similar resemblance to
others, the location changing while the story remain the same.
Now let us turn from legend to fact.
The Byzantine emperor Manuel Comnene (1143-1180) had two towers
built, one on the shore where Topkapi Palace was later
constructed, and the other where the Maiden's Tower stands today.
Chains were drawn across the mouth of the strait between these two
towers when Istanbul was attacked by enemy fleets. Sultan Mehmet
II conquered Istanbul in 1453 and used these chains to enforce tax
collection of ships passing from the Black Sea to Europe. There
have been various changes over the centuries as a result of
repairs and fires, and Kiz Kulsei was extensively renovated during
the reign of Mahmud II when it took the form we see today.
Services
Open for dinner Tuesday through Sunday from 8pm to 12am.
Closed Mondays. All major credit cards are accepted at Kiz Kulesi.
Advance reservations for individuals are required - we suggest reserving
one
month in advance. Groups,
Special Events and Parties are welcome, please call the sales
office at +90 (212) 727 4095 or e mail
info@kizkulesi.com.tr.
Location and Ferry Information
Kiz Kulesi is in the middle of the Bosphorus Strait, thus, you
must take a ferry boat. On the Asian Side there are continuous boats
from Salacak which is the nearest shore to the Kiz Kulesi.
Other ferries operate as follows:
Ortakoy is a bay on the European side just below the Bosphorus
Bridge.
Ortakoy (Asian side)
to Kiz Kulesi Restaurant : 1:00pm, 3:00pm, 5:00pm
Kiz Kulesi Restaurant to Ortakoy : 2:30pm, 4:30pm, 7:00pm
Kabatas is also a harbor on the European side in Besiktas Area
near Dolmabahce Palace.
Kabatas (European side) to Kiz Kulesi Restaurant : 8:30pm
Kiz Kulesi Restaurant - Kabatas : 11:30pm, 12:15am |
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