| Istanbul's Maiden Tower, Kiz Kulesi, is one of | | | | that this legend is how the Maiden Tower (Kiz |
| Turkey's most exciting tourist attractions. Built in | | | | Kulesi) got it's name. |
| 408 B.C. by Athenian general Alcibiades to control | | | | The Maiden Tower, which was used as a |
| the traffic of Persian ships in the Bosphorus strait, | | | | lighthouse for centuries, now houses a restaurant |
| the Maiden Tower was later rebuilt as a fortress | | | | and café that are two of Istanbul's |
| for Byzantine emperor Alexius Comnenus in 1110 | | | | premiere hotspots for fine dining. The café |
| A.D. | | | | in the Maiden Tower is open to walk-in tourists |
| Ottoman Turks also had a hand in maintaining this | | | | from noon to nine and dinner in the restaurant is |
| beautiful tower, rebuilding the restoring the | | | | available by reservation only. With frequent live |
| façade several times throughout the years. | | | | music, D.J.s, events, and the obligatory use of a |
| There are many popular myths and legends | | | | boat to reach the tower, dining at the Maiden |
| surrounding the Maiden Tower. Once of the most | | | | Tower is as romantic as it gets. |
| popular legends is about a beloved sultan's | | | | The Maiden Tower has been also been used in |
| daughter who, it was prophesized, would die of a | | | | popular film and television, appearing most |
| snakebite on her eighteenth birthday. Wanting to | | | | recently in the 2007 film "Hitman". The Maiden |
| protect his daughter from the prophecy, the | | | | Tower was also used as a hideout for the villain |
| sultan sent the princess to the tower for | | | | Elektra in the James Bond film "The World is Not |
| safe-keeping. All was well until her eighteenth | | | | Enough" and featured on "The Amazing Race" |
| birthday when the sultan brought the princess a | | | | television show. |
| beautiful basket of fruit to celebrate her birthday | | | | Full of history, intrigue, romance and culture; make |
| and the avoidance of the prophecy. As the | | | | sure your vacation to Turkey includes a visit to |
| princess reached for a bunch of grapes, an asp, | | | | Istanbul's Maiden Tower. |
| which had been hiding in the basket, bit her on the | | | | Turkey - Turkish People and Culture - Night life in |
| hand and she died in her father's arms. It is said | | | | Istanbul - Blue Mosque. |