Marmara (island)
From Wikitravel
Marmara Island (Turkish: Marmara Adası) is the largest one of Marmara Islands, Turkey.
[edit] Understand
Although quite small by world standards, this island is second largest island of island-poor Turkey. Its name comes from marmara in Greek (mermer in Turkish), which means “marble”, referring to the fact that island’s quarries have been used for marble extraction since ancient times. The island also gave its name to the Sea of Marmara by which it is surrounded. Island’s ancient name, on the other hand, was Prokonessos.
Marmara Island has peculiarities unique to it in the archipelago. Firstly, it is large enough to sustain more than a couple of villages (it has four villages and two towns, all situated on its oval-shaped shoreline). It is also mountainous, with highest point reaching 709 meters at Ilyas Tepe. This mountainous geography does not allow for long beaches along the coastline. Unlike other islands in the archipelago, its large portions are covered with forests.
Island’s capital town is also called Marmara (pop. 3-4,000), situated in SW coast of the island. Islanders make their living by fishing and agriculture, especially olive cultivation.
[edit] Get in
Year-round boats which can accommodate cars from Tekirdağ (on the northern/European coast of the Sea of Marmara) and Erdek (on the southern/Asian coast of the Sea of Marmara). There are also pessenger-only fast ferries from Istanbul during summer months. Ferries from Tekirdağ cost 15 TL/person, while ferries from Istanbul cost 40 TL/person (or 30 TL/person on the slower ferry departing on Saturday mornings).
[edit] Get around
[edit][add listing] See
- Open air Marble Museum in Saraylar village (situated on the northern coast), which is located in one of the quarries unused since Roman times and displaying unfinished sculptures left at where they were being chipped by Roman sculptors.
[edit][add listing] Do
[edit][add listing] Buy
[edit][add listing] Eat
[edit][add listing] Drink
[edit][add listing] Sleep
Most guesthouses (pansiyon) are located in Çınarlı village, situated on the western coast. There are also a few more in other villages, mainly in Marmara town, the capital of the island.
[edit] Contact
Island’s telephone code is 266 (+90 266 when calling from out of Turkey).
[edit] Get out
Other islands of Marmara Archipelago.
| This article is an outline and needs more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow! |
