Maiden's Tower

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Although this little island was occupied by a fortress in Byzantine times, the tower dates from the last century. In Turkish it's known as Kız Kulesi, or Maiden's Tower - supposedly after a princess who was confined here after a prophet predicted she would die from a snake bite.

The fatal bite was duly delivered by a serpent that arrived in a basket of fruit. In English it's even more randomly known as Leander's Tower, after the Greek hero who swam the Hellespont. The tower has been used as a quarantine centre, lighthouse and customs control point.

These days, the tower is a café-restaurant decked out like an Ottoman banquet hall, which is very popular with wedding parties. It's a scenic spot for an average lunch, but dinner is an expensive, reservations-only affair.