The Maiden’s Tower opened its doorways to guests after two years of intensive restoration work as Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy launched the meticulous renovations of the landmark with the distinguished restorers in a news convention held early Thursday.
The minister proudly introduced that each one non-original additions to the Maiden’s Tower have been eliminated through the restoration and that it was restored to its authentic type from the time of Sultan Mahmud II. The respectable group of restorers includes architect Feridun Cılı, a number one Turkish scholar of antiquities Zeynep Ahunbay and eventually, grasp architect Han Tümertekin, who has revealed many articles within the worldwide enviornment.
Ersoy highlighted the primary motto of the restoration works as he elaborated that any longer, Istanbulities is not going to observe the Maiden’s Tower from the shore however will observe Istanbul from the Maiden’s Tower.
“After a two-year restoration course of, we’re reintroducing the Maiden’s Tower to our residents. This is a really historic construction that dates again 2,400 years. It was destroyed and rebuilt a number of instances all through historical past. Restoration work was carried out through the Republican period, in 1944 and within the Nineteen Sixties.
The final restoration work befell in 1998, 1999 and 2000. The most up-to-date restoration work was simply accomplished at present,” he added.
“When we look at the history of the Maiden’s Tower, we see different versions of it. Before starting the restoration, we examined the restoration work done in 1944. The original parts of the structure that remained from that time were the tower and the castle. All the other parts you see outside the building and castle are additions made later. Many of these additions are not faithful to the original design. Unfortunately, concrete was used, which is now banned in restoration work in many countries but was a popular material in the 1940s,” he added.
Ersoy demonstrated that the Maiden’s Tower had returned to its authentic state through the interval of Sultan Mahmud II by displaying images and an previous TL 10 invoice from his pocket. He defined that the primary photograph was taken in 1826 through the reign of Sultan Mahmud II, and the second photograph was taken in 2023 after the restoration. The minister maintained that the constructing has been restored to its authentic type.
“In the Nineteen Nineties and Nineteen Sixties, a collection of comparable inaccurate additions have been made. Especially we don’t favor the utilization of concrete because the chemical compounds and salts in concrete injury the unique partitions and supplies. Over time, this causes injury and put on to the fabric. Similarly, it disrupts the static calculations made hundreds of years in the past in line with the unique materials. After the terrace, this constructing was designed with wooden. In the restorations of the Forties, the static construction was broken as a result of concrete was used excessively.
“After decades, the additions started to damage the walls, holes opened and cracks appeared. The building started to slide slowly,” he defined.
Ersoy stated: “Due to these circumstances, there are two important steps we have done in this restoration project. One of them is the removal of later unnecessary non-original additions. The second is the restoration of the building with its original material. During both the restoration and reconstruction processes, the original materials of the building from years ago were used,” Ersoy highlighted.
“The projects prepared by our science council were implemented after being approved by the monuments board. There are actually two types of work here. One is related to the structure of the platform, and the other is related to the work under the platform or at sea level as there have been thousands of breakages and fragmentations over thousands of years.”
“As it was not restored with the original material, the platform was removed, and a stronger L-pile system was reinforced around it. Unfortunately, the previous pile system was also built incorrectly. Short piles were used, and it caused sliding over time with the waves because it was only built on two sides. Now, all four sides have been reinforced with piles, and 25-meter-long piles have been inserted into the solid seabed,” he added.
The minister introduced that beginning on Thursday night time, the constructing will probably be opened to the general public with a lightweight and laser present. The present will characteristic a love story between Galata Tower and Maiden’s Tower.
It will probably be repeated each night time and can permit the individuals of Istanbul to benefit from the view of the town from the Maiden’s Tower.
Legend has it that the 2 towers stand as a logo of their everlasting love, with the Galata Tower gazing lovingly on the Maiden’s Tower, ready for the day they are often reunited as soon as once more.
The Maiden’s Tower will probably be open totally free visits till the top of May.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
