PRINCES'
ISLANDS
Their very name evokes
memories of a world of palaces and lives of glory, though in olden times this
name had an echo of horror attached to it as well. These coastal islands,
proffering most magnificent views of Constantinople, derive their name from
those unfortunate princes and emperors of the imperial dynasty who were sent
there in exile, blinded and forced to remain, so near and yet so far from
their beloved city.
Though the islands are not very far from the city, they were a long distance
in terms of the available transportation in those days. After small ships were
put into use in 1846 and with today's rapid communications, the islands became
just another shore line of Istanbul.
Scents of blooming mimosa in the early spring and jasmine flowers in the
summertime fill the air on the islands with their beautiful mansions amid pine
forests and the swimming areas on the shores.
Büyükada
(Prinkipo): As its name (Big Island) implies,
this is the biggest island of all. On turning right from the boat docks, is
the section called Nizam, and to the left is the section called Maden. The
majority of residents on Büyükada are Jews. The island's two hills are 202
and 160 meters high. Nestled between these two hills is a Greek Orthodox
monastery and Church of St. Niklaus. By renting a horse carriage, one can tour
the island, the short tour covering the first hill and the big tour, the
second hill. On the hill next to the amusement park is St. Georges Greek
Orthodox monastery and church. Also on the island are four other Greek
churches, St. Dimitrios, Panayia, St. Theodoros and Profitis; the Asdvadzadzin
Armenian Catholic church; San Pacifico Roman Catholic church; Hesed Ie Avraam
synagogue and Hamidiye mosque.
Heybeliada
(Halki): Heybeliada is the island with the densest
population and most frequent to and fro activity of all. It has four hills,
highest of which is 140 meters. The naval academy is found on this island, and
there is a sanatorium at Pine Harbor. In addition to the old Byzantine church
of Kamariotissa which was built right before the Turkish conquest of Istanbul,
Heybeliada's other houses of worship are the Church of St. Niklaus, monastery
of St. Trias and Beth Yakov synagogue. On the highest hill stands a former
theological school of the Greek Orthodox Church, which continued instruction
up until 1970.
Kinaliada (Proti): Kinali is the closest island to the city and Armenians constitute the majority of its population. Although today this island could be reached within an hour by ship, in Byzantine days, most of the exiled ones, including Diogenes, were sent there. Surp Krikor Lusavorich church, Asri mosque and the Greek Orthodox Hristos (Christ) monastery on the Hill are located on Kinaliada.
Burgazada (Pyrgos): Greeks and Jews form the majority on Burgaz island. The home of one of the important authors of Turkish literature, Sait Faik (1906-1954), is open for viewing. The religious sites on the island include a mosque, the churches of St. Georges, St. Ionisis and Hristos, part of a former Orthodox monastery which stands at the top of the island.
Kasikada (Pytis): Only a caretaker and his family reside on this small, privately owned island, named for its spoon shape.
Yassiada: Yassiada has belonged to the Turkish navy for a long period. As it is uninhabited, it may seem to be quite insignificant, but in the year 1960, after the military intervention, government officials were incarcerated there and tried by a military court, making the island very famous and much discussed. Now it is used by the Istanbul University sea products department.
Sivriada (Oxya): The stray dogs of the Ottoman Empire in its last days were exiled to this island. The harbor isoften used by fishermen but the island has no permanent inhabitants.
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