Sedef Adası

Sedef Adası is the smallest inhabited island among Istanbul’s Princes’ Islands, measuring approximately 1.3 by 1.1 kilometers. Its name, meaning “Mother-of-Pearl Island,” derives from the shimmering appearance of its vegetation when viewed from afar, which was said to resemble the luster of nacre. In earlier times, it was also known as Tavşan Adası (“Rabbit Island”) due to its once-abundant rabbit population. The island is home to two small beaches, offering a peaceful seaside atmosphere away from the city.

Like the other islands, Sedef Adası served as a place of exile during the Byzantine period. One of its most notable exiles was Patriarch Ignatios, who was banished to the island in 857 AD. After enduring ten years of hardship and imprisonment, he was reinstated as patriarch in 867.

In 1850, the island became the property of Fethi Ahmet Pasha, the Marshal of the Tophane Armory. He introduced olive groves and vegetable gardens to the island, but following his death, Sedef Adası fell into neglect. During World War I, most of its trees were cut down, and during the Allied occupation of Istanbul, the Ottoman battleship Yavuz anchored off its coast for an extended period.

Later, the descendants of Ferid Pasha sought to transform Sedef Adası into an exclusive residential community. They established a housing cooperative, planted thousands of trees, and built villas, shaping the island’s refined and private character seen today.