The Story of Sevda Hill in Kandilli

Sevda Hill is in the Kandilli district of Uskudar, Istanbul. Its name was previously knowns as Çamlik Tepe and Ömür Tepe. However, after the sad love story of 1931, the hill is known as Sevda Hill. So how did the love that gave Sevda Hill its name come about?

Vahit Bey and Belkıs Hanım's Lives

Vahit Bey is a student at Kuleli Military High School in the 1920s, and his father, Emin Efendi, is a war veteran of the Turkish War of Independence. Belkıs is a young girl who graduated from the American College of Girls and worked as a typewriter at the Dutch Bahrisefid Bank. Although these two young people’s families did not approve of their relationship, they met every day in the forest area where today's Cypriot Mansion is located and had their love. According to a legend, Ms. Vahit's family opposed this marriage because Ms. Belkıs' family came from the alafranga (western) tradition. According to another narrative, Ms. Belkıs’ father wanted to marry his girl to Emir Dirvana, one of the heirs of the Mansion.

The Sad End of Valentino Vahit and Ms. Belkıs

Mr. Vahit looked like Rudolph Valentino, who made a Hollywood film in those years. In turn, why he is known as Valentino Vahit where he lives. Ms. Belkıs’ college friends allegedly sent Vahit's photo to the American film company and received an acceptance letter. However, Mr. Vahit refuses to give up his military profession and believes that Ms. Belkis sent the photo. With dark clouds hanging over their relationship, the couples went to the hill where they always met after a wedding, they attended one day. What happened between them is unknown, but they allegedly tore up letters they had written to each other. Then, Mr. Vahit shot Ms. Belkıs in the heart with his father's pistol and then killed himself. The newspapers of that day reported it as a great love affair. Among the graves of lovers buried side by side at the request of the families is a monument that says, "They died here in 1931." Since that day, the hill where lovers died has been called Sevda Hill.