| Page Views: 870 Last Visit to Gokceada: May, 2008 | Heavenly island. by Tdiver - last update: May 23, 2008 |
Old Imbros. | Zeytinlikoy's cafe with history, Gokceada. |
The Greek name for the island is Imbros or Imvros but now being Turkish since 1927 it is Gokceada which translates to Heavenly island. Most of the Greeks have gone now but there are pockets and several Orthodox Churches remain, indeed the present Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I was born on the island on 29th February 1940 in Aghios Theodorus, now renamed Zeytinlikoy. His and formerly his fathers old house is now a small coffee house near the centre of the village. The highest point of the island is an extinct volcano but there are flatter areas to the south near Yuvali and Eselek, also the area for camping and windsurfing. Road are generally OK but sign posts aren't great nor are maps. Out of season it's hard to find anything except in the capital Gokceada or the main tourist area around Kalekoy (Kastro). |
| Gokceada-Kabatepe ferry in Kuzu Limani harbour. |
|  | Currently there are only ferries from Kabatepe, east of Eceabat on the Gallipoli Peninsula but high season sees ferries also from Canakkale. Lots of pensions in Yeni Bademli and some nice motels in and overlooking Kalekoy, serving great food. Olive trees are everywhere on the island and they sell their own oil. Three old Greek villages are worth a look but the smallest, Eski Bademli (Gliky) or just Bademli on the signpost isn't that big and the streets are rocky and narrow, you have been warned. The other two are Zeytinlikoy (Aghios Theodoros) and Tepekoy (Agridia) famous for it's Barba Yorgo restaurant. All the beaches are nice, with the longest being at Pinarbasi if you can find it. We looked in at Mavi Su resort on the SW end of the island and the beach is just perfect for kids. |
| The beach at Mavi Su Resort, Gokceada. |
|  | Turkey's first marine national park is at Mavikoy, between Kalekoy and Kuzu Limani, on the NE coast. Couldn't see any diving and not sure if anyone does it there at present but the Mavisu Resort say they do it on their web pages.. |
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| Pros: | "Relax with nature, nowhere is built-up except Gokceada town." | | Cons: | "Signs and roads." | | In A Nutshell: | "If getting away from it all excites you, this is fairly good." |
Tdiver's Gokceada Travel Tips
| Overview | Things to Do Tips: 1 - Photos: 5 | | | | Restaurants | Hotels & Accommodations Tips: 16 - Photos: 51 | | | | Nightlife | Off The Beaten Path | | | | Tourist Traps | Warnings Or Dangers | | | Transportation Tips: 1 - Photos: 5 | Local Customs | | | | Packing Lists | Shopping | | | | Sports Travel | General Tips |
Comments for Tdiver about Gokceada | | | | |
Arkeolog Wed Mar 18, 2009 13:26 UTC Gokceada always means peace&quiet to me. I love this island esp in spring. All the best. | mirliya Sun Dec 7, 2008 10:17 UTC Thanks for sharing Mark.it was amazing to watch underwater /Ugurlu. I've missed Gokceada... |
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