Bozcaada district covers the Bozcaada island and a total of 17 islets around the main island. The total area of the district is. The highest point of the district is Göztepe with an altitude of. The district center is situated on the east side of the island at about. It is situated 22 km. south of Dardanelles Strait Its distance to Geyikli the nearest sea port on the main land is 7.5 km. The distance from Geyikli to Çanakkale is about. Up until recently, Bozcaada was unique in Turkey as being a district with no rural population. Its population is 2465 as of 2012. In 2010 it was 2354.
History
In the antiquity the island was known as Leukophrys and in Greek mythology it was Tenedos. It was mentioned in Homer's Iliad. In the medieval age it was a Byzantine possession. Towards the end of the medieval age it was left to Republic of Venice by the emperor John V Palaiologos as a ransom. In 1381 however, following Venetian Genoese War it was evacuated by the Venetians according to the Peace of Turin. In 1455 it was annexed by the Ottoman Empire during the reign of Mehmet II. Although the Venetians tried to regain the island, in 1464 the Ottoman control was secured by Mahmut Pasha. As a result of the former evacuation, the island was uninhabited during the early years of Ottoman administration and the Ottoman Empire populated the present Bozcaada district by using tax exemption. Ottoman Empire also restored the castle which was demolished during the Venetian-Genoese war. Turks called the island Bozcaada meaning grayish island and the famous cartographer Piri Reis of the 16th century also used this name in his maps. In 1923 when the Turkish Republic was proclaimed, the island was declared a district and the only settlement in Bozcaada became the municipality and district center of Çanakkale Province.
Economy
The major economic activities of Bozcaada are wineries and fishing industry. Sponge fishing, once an important economic sector, has since declined. Tourism and agriculture are emerging sectors. The ferry service, which began in 1996, is believed to boost tourism. There is also a passenger boat service from Çanakkale about 40 km away. Total tourist beds amount to about 2500.
Places of interest
According to municipality of Bozcaada the historically important buildings are the following
Bozcaada castle which was reconstructed by the Ottoman sultan Mehmet II in the 15th century, and repaired by the Ottoman sultan Mahmut II in 1815 is the most important touristic attraction of Bozcaada. It is in the district center facing east. Thus visitors to Bozcaada can observe the castle during their voyage.
Another castle is a casemate which is popularly called Yenikale. Despite its name it is in ruins. It was constructed in 1827 by Hafız Ali Pasha, the governor of Bozcaada. It is situated on a hill to the west of Bozacaada district center
Alaybey mosque was probably built in 1700 by Ahmet Ağa, the governor of Bozcaada. It is partially in ruins.
Yalı camii is a mosque which was built on the foundations of a medieval Venetian building in 1655. It was commissioned by Köprülü Mehmet Pasha in 1655. It is now under restoration.
