Camlica Hill, Public hilltop park on Asian side, Istanbul, Turkey.
Camlica Hill is a public hilltop park on Istanbul's Asian side, reaching 268 meters at its peak. From the summit, the Bosphorus Strait, the Marmara Sea, and both sides of the city spread out below in clear view.
In the 17th century, Ottoman Sultan Murat IV chose this hill as the site for his summer residence and hunting grounds. This imperial use established the location as a significant place in Istanbul's past.
The hill serves as a gathering place where local families spend afternoons sharing tea and food in the open air. The tea gardens and pathways show how deeply this location is woven into daily life for people from the neighborhood.
You can reach the hill by public bus from Üsküdar or by taxi, with the site open daily from sunrise to sunset. The walk to the top is manageable for most visitors, and shaded areas along the paths offer rest spots during the climb.
A bird trainer named Ivaz Fakih used the grassy summit to train birds of prey, and his tomb still stands at the peak. This unusual story adds a layer of local history that goes beyond the imperial past of the site.
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