Bozcaada, Island district in Çanakkale Province, Turkey.
Bozcaada is an island district in the Aegean Sea featuring rocky cliffs, sandy beaches, and traditional whitewashed buildings set along cobblestone streets. Vineyards cover the hillsides, and a natural harbor forms the center of the main settlement where fishing boats and ferries dock.
The island served as a strategic location from ancient Greek times through the Ottoman period due to its control over the Dardanelles strait. Different powers shaped the settlement over centuries, leaving traces in the fortifications and building styles that remain visible today.
Wine making shapes daily life here, with families tending vineyards and small producers crafting regional wines using methods passed down through generations. The sight of grape vines covering the hillsides and workers harvesting throughout the seasons shows how central this tradition remains to the island's identity.
Regular ferry services connect the mainland to the island, with journeys taking around an hour and operating several times daily. Beaches and inland walking paths are accessible throughout the island, though sturdy footwear helps on uneven terrain.
A lighthouse stands on the western edge, marking shipping routes since the mid-1800s and offering views across the Aegean. From this vantage point, visitors gain perspective on why maritime passage through these waters has always mattered.
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