If you are passionate about the Aegean and want to end your holiday with a great event as the weather cools, Bozcaada Vintage Festival is exactly the activity you are looking for.
Bozcaada, the apple of the eye of grape cultivation, welcomes visitors to experience both their world and their history with the Vineyard Festival. The festival, which is held every year in the first week of September, is planned for the weekend of 2-4 September 2022. There is always a place for you in Bozcaada hotels, which host friends of nature, historians and gastronomy enthusiasts on these dates.
Festive Traditions
At the beginning of the festival, one can tour the vineyards on a tractor, horse carriage or on foot to carry on the tradition. Locals, vineyard workers and guests disperse to the vineyards, eagerly awaiting the starting call. The festival begins with the cutting of about two-pound individual clusters. The work is done slowly and deliberately, bunch by bunch. You too can get involved in the decades-old festive culture of centuries-old vineyards. Various grapes are loaded into baskets, and visitors then bring the grapes they themselves have harvested to the festival area to eat with pleasure and to share with the local musicians. The fun continues here too. The festival carries on in Bozcaada Castle, which has witnessed the history of the island. Although the name of the builders has been lost to time, the castle has been the subject of many stories. Various concerts and events have been prepared for you to enjoy the Aegean and its vineyards, a story witnessed over the centuries. The Vineyard Festival, which has been held every year for nearly 20 years, has become one of the important venues where various musicians are pleased to perform concerts for you. Apart from music, festival-specific competitions are also held, including the Miss Grape Beauty Contest is one of them.
Spend three days spent in a town where fun is to be found in every direction, even deep in nature. When it’s time to take your leave of Bozcaada, you will see the locals waving behind you. The hospitality and sharing of the local people is carried through the culture of the annual grape harvest, which has been the symbol of hope and fertility since ancient times. This feeling resonates deeply with everyone who attends the festival. It’s impossible to return home without a basket of grapes and a wide smile.
A Bunch of History
The island has been home to many civilisations over the centuries. Through the centuries it was under the subsequent rule of the Greek, Persian and Roman Empires. After the disintegration of the Roman Empire, it passed under the Byzantine rule. The first connection of the Turks with Bozcaada, as it is known today, was established in 1328. The island, which had been abandoned for many years, was completely under Turkish rule in 1455 and was known to locals as “Bozcaada”, a name which has persisted until today. In 1403, interest in the deserted island resumed; it was during this period that the Spanish traveller Clavijo adventured to the island, where he first encountered the abandoned orchards and vineyards left to grow in the wild.
The climate of the island climate is dry and warm enough to grow grapes due to the constant winds which sweep the land throughout the year. The island climate has always made it a favourable location for viticulture activities and has allowed the residents to remain productive until today.
How Do I Get There?
Bozcaada, the second largest island in the Aegean Sea, is approximately 60 kilometres from Çanakkale city center. If you prefer to travel by car, it is possible to reach Geyikli Pier in a total of 2 hours by car ferry service. In order to reach Bozcaada from İstanbul, it is necessary to first traverse the Dardanelles Strait. There are various alternatives to cross the Bosporus by car ferry. For car ferry services, different departure times are scheduled in order to accommodate the summer and winter seasons. For air transportation, the nearest airport is Çanakkale Airport, which is located 56 kilometres away from Bozcaada.
You Will Want to Come Back When the Festival is Over
Bozcaada Marina: When you arrive at Bozcaada by ferry, the first thing you will see will be Bozcaada Marina. Bozcaada Marina is one of the cleanest ports in Turkey: visitors will surely this port which offers a pristine view of the sea. If your wish is to take a walk or shop for souvenirs, you will be more than fulfilled. Here are the points you should visit and see in order to experience Bozcaada to the fullest:
Bozcaada Bays: If you plan a quiet holiday at the end of the festival and you dread the city noise which awaits you upon your return, beholding the bays will be exactly the activity you are looking for. The colours of Habbale Bay will make you fall in love with its visual splendour, Beylik Bay will meet your need for serenity, Aquarium Bay will welcome you with open arms if you want to dive.
Wander the Streets of Bozcaada: If you are looking for the feeling of an open-air museum, the individual neighbourhoods of Bozcaada will satisfy this need. The blocks are so individualised that it is possible to sense the separation of Turkish Quarter and Greek Quarter in a heartbeat. The wooden houses of the Turkish Quarter peek out shyly from the winding streets, while the Greek Quarter attracts attention for its cobblestones and manicured houses. Both neighbourhoods, with their great restaurants and centuries of history, will make you happy in many ways.
Bozcaada Castle: The castle is the first visible monument to capture they eye when coming by ferry: famous for its majesty, it has been keeping a watchful eye on the island for centuries. It is one of the best-preserved castles in Turkey. If you wish, you can also see the inside of the castle and take a tour of the grounds
As to the question of lodging, you will easily find the best among Bozcaada hotels with Odamax, who leave you to spend quality time with your loved ones in this magnificent atmosphere, and share the enthusiasm of the festival.
