Bozcaada
is a small Turkish island located about 12 miles (19 km) off the western
coast of Turkey just south of the Dardanelles (a narrow strait in northwestern
Turkey connecting the Aegean Sea with the Marmora Sea). The island’s ancient
name was Tenedos, and its strategic location in the Aegean Sea at the entrance
of the Dardanelles Straits was ideal to guard the city of Troy just to
the north.
When approaching
Bozcaada’s eastern coast on the ferry from the mainland, the island’s terrain
is unimpressive and barren. Offsetting this bleakness is the characteristic
Greek whitewashed town of Bozcaada with its narrow streets and its impressive
fortress. The outdoor harbor area is a pleasant place for tea, next
to sailboats, and further out, great ocean going ships in queue to pass
to Istanbul. There is a wide availability of hotel accommodation
for all price ranges. The town has a bank, an ATM, a few markets,
and an internet café (expect slow connections and short working
hours).
Set upon the
hill to the north of the town is the very well preserved fortress, which
was originally built in the time of the Venetians and served great importance
during the era of the Ottoman Conqueror Sultan Mehmet. It was later
torn down in 1807 and rebuilt 1.5 kilometers inland in 1842. A number
of historic sea battles were waged here as the island’s ownership passed
back and forth between the Greeks and the Turks.
The island
makes an ideal place to set up base for day trips to the archeological
sites of Troy and Assos. The ferry to and from Bozcaada and the mainland
takes about a half an hour, runs four times a day, and costs USD 2.
From there it is about an hour to either Troy or Assos by modern air-conditioned
busses which meet the ferry upon arrival and departure.
