Bozcaada is a small Turkish island tucked away in the Northern Aegean.  It is situated approximately 20 kilometres south of the Dardanelles and not far from the ancient city of Troy.  It is only 40 square kilometres in size and can be reached by a short ferry crossing from Geyikli on the Turkish mainland. 

It remains largely undiscovered by the international traveller but the few who are lucky enough to find it usually arrive clutching a copy of Lonely Planet.  Visitors therefore are predominantly Turkish and recent years has seen it become an increasingly popular holiday destination. 
Discover it for yourself and you will quickly understand why this lovely, little-known island has such enduring appeal. 

As you approach Bozcaada you are greeted by an impressive fortress, a back-drop of small houses huddled together on the hillside and a pretty little harbour with a scattering of small restaurants.   It is an invitingly picturesque scene but this is merely a facade since the real beauty of Bozcaada lies within. 

The narrow cobbled streets with their cascading vines,  dazzling luminescent bougainvillea, pink-tinted orleandars and holly hocks nearly as high as the wonderfully preserved Greek houses themselves,  the softly hilly interior strewn with vineyards, the vast stretches of clean, unspoilt beaches, the cafes, restaurants and tea gardens, the people...these are Bozcaada's hidden secrets waiting for you. 

Very little has changed in Bozcaada over the years and it continues to be one of those rare places in the world that has retained it's inherent, natural beauty.  The town itself is very small and essentially residential with small pensions, guest houses and 'boutique hotels' interspersed between private homes.  The buildings as a whole remain faithful to their original design.  The island's interior has seen very little development and the houses are sporadic.  The stonehouses are also built in traditional style.

Historically, the island has been conquered and occupied at various times by the Phoenicians, Athenians, Greeks, Persians, Venetians, Genoese, Byzantines and Ottomans.  In more recent times though it was principally a Greek island with the name of Tenedos.  This all changed with the signing of the Lausanne Peace Treaty in 1923 and the island was ceded to Turkish sovereignty as part of the newly formed Republic of Turkey heralding the end of the Ottoman Empire. 

As set out in the Treaty the indigenous Greeks of Tenedos were granted special status with the right to remain on the island but most of them emigrated and today there are just a handful living on the island.

Under the newly established Turkish administration the island was renamed Bozcaada which means 'barren island'.  Today's Bozcaada, whilst undoubtedly Turkish, is fiercely proud of it's Greek heritage.  The old town houses still retain much of the original Greek architecture and to this day the small Orthodox church still serves the community.  There is also a small Greek chapel at Ayazma where, every year at the end of July, a festival is held which attracts many Greek visitors from all over the world.  The Greek traditions, it would appear, are a lasting legacy. 

Today the island's population, which is primarily Muslim, is small with only approximately 1500 residing here all year round.  This figure swells in the summer with the incoming holiday visitors many of which have summer houses on the island.  

The mainstays of the local economy are tourism, fishing and wine production.  Tomato jam is a famous local speciality.  It is made exclusively in Bozcaada and cannot be found anywhere else in Turkey.  The residents are served by two mosques in the Turkish quarter.  A weekly bazaar is held in the town every wednesday where you can buy fresh fruit and vegetables, cheese, olives and other sundry items.

Turkish people are famous for their hospitality and no more so than here in Bozcaada.  There is a real sense of warmth and friendliness about the place and the locals are very welcoming.
 
If you find yourself struggling with the Turkish language then simply try merhaba (hello), gunaydin (good morning), iyi aksamlar (good evening) and tesekkur ederim (thank you) and it will be enough to bring a smile to their faces and their smiles are genuine!
 
Bozcaada continues to be a much sought-after destination...the perfect place to escape to this summer! 

It is a special and unique place where everyday really does feel like the weekend!