The Maiden's Tower stands on a natural cliff between the Marmara Sea and the Bosphorus, only 200 metres from the Salacak coast of Üsküdar. Its strategic position overlooks the Bosphorus to the north, the Marmara Sea to the south, and the entrance of the Golden Horn to the west. Throughout history, this cliff has served various purposes, particularly in controlling sea traffic. The Maiden's Tower cliff has been home to various structures throughout history. Due to frequent earthquakes, harsh weather conditions, and exposure to the sea, these structures have been destroyed faster than usual, leading to numerous rebuilds and renovations. The majority of the structures visible today were constructed during the reign of Ottoman Sultan Mahmud II in 1832-33. The tower was converted into a quarantine hospital during this period to prevent the spread of the cholera epidemic to the city. In 1836-1837, during a plague epidemic, some patients were isolated in the hospital established here, and quarantine prevented the spread of the epidemic. Following extensive restoration between 1995-2000, the tower was leased to a private business for tourism purposes. In 2020, the Maiden's Tower was transferred to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and opened to visitors as a monument after undergoing extensive restoration works between 2021 and 2023. The restoration process involved removing additions that didn't match the original character of the building and restoring its original details. In the 18th century, Western travellers appropriated an ancient legend set in the Dardanelles for the Maiden's Tower. According to legend, Hero, a priestess at the Temple of Aphrodite on one side of the Dardanelles, falls in love with a young man named Leandros who lives on the other side. Leandros swims across the strait every night following the torch lit by Hero, and the two lovers meet. However, on a stormy night, when Hero is unable to signal, Leander loses his way and drowns. The next day, Hero sees the lifeless body of her lover on the shore and commits suicide by throwing herself into the water. The tower is still known as Leander Tower in Western languages today due to the legend associated with it.