These islands are not only peaceful green retreats from city stress, but fascinating treasure troves of history, both tragic and romantic. An offshore extension of the Kocaeli peninsula, this small archipelago is formed of limestone and covered by a red soil rich in iron. That is why they are also known as the Red Islands in Turkish. The islands are green throughout the year thanks to the vegetation of evergreen shrubs and pine trees. Vegetables, fruit, wheat, barley, olives, grapes and flowers all grow well in the fertile soil of the islands, although since they became popular summer resorts most of the orchards and market gardens have been swallowed up by holiday villas.
Small coves provide natural shelters for fishing boats.
In Byzantine times many monasteries were established on these remote islands, and to these were exiled princes, princes and patriarchs who fell out of imperial favour, and this inspired the established English name, the Princes Islands. In Turkish they were known in the past as the Islands of Priests or Papaz Adalari, but today are just referred to as the Islands. Caf s along the waterfront. Burgaz Adasi is the most unspoilt of the islands today. The first steam ferry service here started up in 1846, and by the end of the century the monasteries has begun closing down as their tranquility was disturbed.