located offshore from Üsküdar, the tiny, white Leander's Tower is a well known Bosphorus landmark. The islet on which is 18th-century tower stands was the site of a 12th-century Byzantine fortress built by Manuel I Comneus. The tower has serverd as a quarantine centre during a cholera outbreak, a lighthouse, a customs control point and a maritime toll gate. It is now a restaurant and nightclub . The tower is known in Turkish as the "Maiden's Tower" after a legendary princess, said to have been confined here after a prophet foretold that she would die from a snakebite. The snake duly appeared from a basket of figs and struck the fatal blow. The English name of the tower derives from the Greek myth of Leander, who swam the Hellespont (the modern-day Dardanelles) to see his lover Hero. (s1)
The Leandros Tower covers an area of 1250 m- and was constructed 200 meters from the coast in the sea over some rocks in Salacak quarter of LIskudar. The locals name-it the 'Madiens Tower'. Both of these names depend on some myths. One of these tells that a Byzantine Emperor imprisoned his daughter in this tower. One day a witch got apples for the girl and gave her a poisonous apple, she died after eating it. That is why the tower is called the Madiens Tower (Kiz Kulesi). The name Leandros is merely an ascription. Because the relation between Hera, the Aphrodite's nun, and her lover, Leandros, who swam here to visit her every night, is said to have occurred in the Dardanelles, not in the Bosphorus. But the same story is told for this tower also. According to the legend, one stormy night Leandros. swimming towards the light Hera kept for him, could not fight the waves and drowned. And his lover Hera committed suicide because of her sorrow. The historical literature state that the war between Athens and Spanians took place here. Alkibades ordered a castle to be constructed here. And in the 12lh century Byzantine Emperor Manuel Komnenos ( ordered another defensive castle to be constructed. After the conquest. Mehmet II ordered another one and it was empowered with cannons. It was used as a lighthouse in 1600's. In the first half of the 19!h century, during the Mahmud II period, it got its last form. Time to time it was used as a prison and a quarantine hospital. It was restored between 1943 and 1945 and is now used as the Control Station. But plans are prepared to transform it into a cafe and restaurant. (s4)
located offshore from Üsküdar, the tiny, white Leander's Tower is a well known Bosphorus landmark. The islet on which is 18th-century tower stands was the site of a 12th-century Byzantine fortress built by Manuel I Comneus. The tower has serverd as a quarantine centre during a cholera outbreak, a lighthouse, a customs control point and a maritime toll gate. It is now a restaurant and nightclub .