ADALAR (Prince Islands)
The Prince Islands, in the Turkish simply “ADALAR” (islands), are the classic vanishing point for stadtmüde Istanbul and tourists who are from the noise of the city millions to recover. In a good hour on one of the nine islands, of which only five are inhabited: Büyükada, Heybeliada, Kınalıada, Burgazada and Sedef Adasi. Warehouse for ADALAR at the end of the ferry terminal in Eminönü, in the summer ferries every 1.5 hours, during the winter in a two hour, fast catamaran boats from KabataÅŸ half hour in summer, winter mornings and evenings, ferries Bostanci of the islands (one-way ticket costs 2.50 euros).
You are truly a world apart. Influenced by the magnificent mansions and their wooden horse-drawn carriages, the time seems to stand still here and the 19th Century still anzudauern. The islands are for private cars and blocked traffic alone, therefore, an oasis of calm compared to the traffic chaos in the city. A horse-drawn carriage ride along the shore road to Büyükada is a very special pleasure. An exception are the weekends during the summer holidays. Then the islands experiencing an influx of daily visitors, which is like an invasion. But during the week, it remains even in midsummer introspective.
Traditionally, the Prince Islands in the summer residence of the Greek, Jewish and Armenian elite have been. While the palace bureaucracy built on the Bosporus, withdrew the wealthy merchants and bankers from the ethnic minorities on the islands back. Greek Orthodox monasteries, Italian and Armenian churches and Jewish synagogues, all still in operation, show that the descendants of these families in the summer are always happy to come to the islands – partly from Athens and Salonika, but also from Tel Aviv or New York. In winter reduces the number of residents opposed to a small town about 20 000 people who consistently live here – especially on Büyükada and Heybeliada. The three smaller islands Burgazada, Sedef Adasi Kınalıada and in winter are almost deserted.
If one by ferry from Eminönü, is the first stop Kınalıada. These smallest of the four islands but has the largest beach and therefore approximates a large bathhouse. The next stop, Burgazada, is regarded as particularly exclusive, but offers little except a beautiful harbor and the bay of visitors for short Kalpazankaya not much. Only in Heybeliada, the third stop of the ferry starts the right island life. In 7000 Ven. belonging is the place worth seeing Theological College of the Greek Orthodox Church. The island has many beautiful bathing and a beautiful trail to the right of the ferry starts on the hill and through forests and villages around 3 km around the island leads. Büyükada, with 5.4 km ² largest island, is the center of the island kingdom. In the 8000-Ven. The city sits administration, here are the most shops and services located. Büyükada is the most varied island, for hikers, sportsmen, but also for gourmets, in an excellent seafood restaurant boards want most to offer.
“Prince islands” are islands, because they already Byzantine times as suburban Verbannungsort for princes have been used by the imperial succession to the throne or Diwan Sultan should be excluded. The last famous exiles was the Russian revolutionary Leon Trotsky, the first six years after his exile from the Soviet Union by Stalin to Büyükada spent.