Bozcaada Island (Turkey)

The little Bozcaada Island, known as Tenedos in ancient times is roughly 39 km2 (15ml2). It is located in the northeastern part of Aegean Sea near Istanbul. As Tenedos, the island is mentioned in both Iliad and Aeneid. Bozcaada Island is the site where the Greek fleet was hid near the end of Trojan War to trick the Trojans into believing that the war was over and into taking Trojan Horse. Bozcaada Island was important throughout antiquity despite its small size thanks to its strategic location at the entrance to Dardanelles.

The sole town of Bozcaada Island has population around 2,000. The tow is on the northeastern corner, facing Mainland Turkey. The cobbled streets in its central part boast their traditional architecture. The rest of Bozcaada Island is covered by scattered pine woods, vineyards, and Mediterranean shrubland, dotted by occasional vineyard manor and, near the coastline, housing estates used as vacation homes by mainland Turks. The main attraction on Bozcaada Island is the castle (occupied by Genoans, Byzantines and Venetians) last rebuilt in 1815. The castle is illuminated at night, with a view out to the open sea. The past of the island is exhibited in a small museum.

Bozcaada district covers Bozcaada island and 17 islets around the main island. The highest point is Göztepe (192 m /630 ft). The district center is located on the east side of the island, 22 km (12 n.ml) south of Dardanelles Strait. Up until recently, Bozcaada district was 'sui generis' in Turkey as having no rural population. Due to metropolitan municipalities est. after 1980s, there are already some other districts that have no rural population.

Bozcaada Island cruise terminal