Camlica Hill with a view

Camlica Hill with a view

Camlica Hill is a beautiful resting place and one of the highest points of the Bosphorus and Istanbul, 267 meters above sea level on the Anatolian Asian side of Istanbul. The hill borders the Uskudar district and offers a wonderful panoramic view of the city, as well as the Sea of Marmara and the Bosphorus.

On a clear day, you can see as far as the Prince’s Islands and the snowy ridge of Mount Uludag. At sunset, the domes and minarets of many of Istanbul’s mosques create a stunning silhouette against the colorful sky. If you are lucky enough to visit Istanbul in spring, you can be sure that this is the best time of the year to climb the hill, where flowers bloom and thousands of birds migrate.

The slopes of Camlica Hill were once covered with dense pine forests, planted by early settlers, and remained throughout the Roman and Byzantine periods. The picturesque hill earned its name due to the abundance of dense pine trees, the Turkish word “Cam” means pine tree. Camlica Hill has been used in many ways over the centuries; was the summer residence and hunting lodge of the Ottoman king Murat IV., but during the reign of Selmin III. it was converted into a space for leisure activities.

Bird trainer Ivaz Fakih used the hill to train his birds of prey and his tomb is located on the grassy summit.