The famous Maiden's Tower reopened in Istanbul

Millions of tourists visit Istanbul every year, which is a real magnet for travelers from all over the world. Among the main attractions of Istanbul is the Maiden's Tower.

Also known as the Leander Tower, it is a lighthouse on a small island in the Bosphorus, within the present-day Uskudar district of Istanbul. It has long been one of the city's symbols and has finally reopened, according to the local Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

It has long been known that as early as 408 BC the tower was used to prevent the movement of Persian ships, acting as a barrier in front of the city. A real iron chain protected the entrance to the strait, stretched between the tower and the peninsula.

In the twelfth century, it was rebuilt into a lighthouse and restored by the Ottomans in 1509. From time to time it served as a prison. It acquired its current appearance in 1763, and was reconstructed in 1998-1999. In the 2010s, the tower is a traffic control station on the Bosphorus, a coffee shop, and a restaurant.

According to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, transportation to the tower will be provided every half hour from 9:30 to 17:00 from the Karaköy pier due to the improvement of the Usküdar Salaçak coastline.

Earlier, TravelWise reported on the best hotels in the popular Turkish resort of Bodrum.