Mount Bulgurlu and Skutari’s Sacred Resting Places

Mount Bulgurlu, towering 850 feet above sea level in Skutari, offers a captivating experience with its panoramic views of the city, the Bosporus, the Sea of Marmora, Thrace’s valleys, and the valleys and mountains of Central Asia Minor. Accessible by carriage within an hour, the ascent near the summit becomes steep for carriages, requiring the last part to be covered on foot. At the top, visitors can enjoy coffee, lemonade, and the purest water in Constantinople. The Imperial Kiosk, constructed in 1660 by Muhammad IV, now serves as the residence of Yussuf Ized-din Effendi, eldest son of the late Sultan Abd-ul-Aziz Skutari.

A Majestic Vista

The Turkish Cemetery, the largest burial ground in Constantinople, is traversed by the road connecting Bulgurlu to the British Cemetery and Kadi Kqui. It holds prominence due to Muslim preferences for burial on the side of the water closest to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. With its crisscrossing roads and dense cypress trees, this city of the dead features a ruined dome near the Howling Dervishes’ convent, believed to mark the burial site of Mahmud II’s favorite charger.

Where Tradition Meets Tranquility

The British Cemetery, a poignant reminder of the Crimean War, stands as the finest in Constantinople. Located at the Marmora end of Skutari Istanbul Private Tours Mevlevi, adjacent to Haidar Pasha Railway Station, it rests on a seafront cliff, serving as a notable landmark for vessels entering the port. The cemetery comprises two sections: the Crimean part and the area designated for the interment of British residents in Constantinople. Meticulously maintained under the supervision of Sergeant Lyne, a Crimean veteran, the granite memorial obelisk supported by sculptured angels was crafted by Baron Munchetti and erected by the British Government. In close proximity lies Skutari Hospital, where the compassionate efforts of Miss Florence Nightingale and her team of British nurses unfolded during a critical period.