What is the Island Escapades?
Island Escapades was founded by Fatih Artvinli, a historian of medicine and psychiatry, forthose who want to walk Heybeliada, one of the Princes' Islands, with thematic conversations. In our walk, we make a complete tour around the island by jumping from literature to island history, from philosophy to medical history, from the history of religions to the understanding of spirituality; we also embark on a historical road conversation about being human.
Walking & Talking Programme
10:30 A.M
Meeting
Meeting time is 10:30, meeting point is Bahar Cafe located between the two piers. (Those who get off at Heybeliada City Lines Pier will walk to the right and thosewho get off at Mavi Marmara Pier will walk about 50 meters to the left and see theBahar Cafe sign).
11:00 A.M
Naval High School
Naval High School trained naval cadets for the Turkish Naval Academy. Established in 1773, it is one of the oldest Turkish high schools.
11:30 A.M
The Halki Seminary
The Halki Seminary, formally the Theological School of Halki was founded on 1 October1844. It was the main school of theology of the Eastern Orthodox Church's EcumenicalPatriarchate of Constantinople until the Turkish parliament enacted a law banning privatehigher education institutions in 1971.
12:00 P.M
İsmet İnönü House Museum
İsmet İnönü House Museum is a house (known as Mavromatis Mansion) that was built in the 19th century. The house was rented by İsmet Pasha (prime minister and later president of the Turkish Republic), and used by İnönü family as a summer residence.
13:30 P.M
Hagios Spyridon Monastery
Hagios Spyridon Monastery, (called Terki Dunya in Turkish) is on the southwest coast of the island, perched on the promontory that forms the western horn of the huge crescent-shaped bay known as Çam Limanı (Pine Port). In the past, monks who wanted to cut their ties with the world used to come here and retreat to this monastery on the edge of the cliff.
14:30 P.M
Heybeliada Sanatorium
Heybeliada Sanatorium, the first state sanatorium of the Republic of Turkey, was opened in 1924 with 16 beds. Over time, new buildings were built and the sanatorium grew to 650 beds. Closed in 2005, the Heybeliada Sanatorium treated famous names from the world of art andliterature, the poor, workers, and the unemployed who were suffering from pulmonarytuberculosis.
Scenes From The Walking
Meet Professor Artvinli
Fatih Artvinli, born in the scenic town of Artvin, is an Associate Professor of the History of Medicine. His passion for healthcare began early, leading him to pursue a degree in Public Health at Yusufeli Health Vocational High School. Later, he studied Political Science and International Relations at Marmara University, deepening his understanding of societal issues. His academic journey continued at Yıldız Technical University, where he earned his Master's and Doctoral degrees in Political Science and International Relations, and then in Atatürk Principles and History of Revolution. Throughout his studies, he worked as a health officer, gaining valuable firsthand experience in healthcare.
While pursuing his doctorate in the history of psychiatry, Artvinli worked at the esteemed Bakırköy Prof. Dr. Mazhar Osman Mental Health and Neurological Diseases Training and Research Hospital, immersing himself in the world of mental health. Following his doctorate, he received a prestigious Fogarty Fellowship from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which took him to Harvard Medical School and Boston Children’s Hospital, where he delved deeper into the fascinating intersection of medicine, history, and the human experience.
Artvinli's research delves into the captivating relationship between psychiatry, ethics, and politics throughout history. He has published numerous articles in prestigious journals like History of Psychiatry and History of Neurosciences, and is the author of two acclaimed books in Turkish:
Osman Bölükbaşı: A Life Spent for a Mirage (Kitap Yayınevi, 2007)
Madness, Politics and Society: Toptaşı Mental Asylum (1873-1927) (Boğaziçi University Press, 2013; Third Edition: Telemak Kitap, Mayıs 2022)
Artvinli's passion for sharing knowledge extends to his dynamic lectures and classes. He captivates his students with courses on "Madness and Civilization," "Oral History in Medicine," and "History of Medicine in Istanbul," offering a unique perspective on the evolution of medicine and its impact on society.
Now, Artvinli brings his passion for history and captivating storytelling to his unique walking tours on the beautiful island of Halki, just off the coast of Istanbul. He lives in Halki, and his deep knowledge of the island’s rich heritage is reflected in his engaging tours.
Logo Explanation
The drawing of Heybeliada in the logo belongs to Akilla Millas, a true "lover" of the Prince Islands, and is reproduced with her permission from her book Halki (Heybeliada).
island escapades (*)
island (n.)
1590s, earlier yland (c. 1300), from Old English igland, iegland "an island," from ieg "island" (from Proto-Germanic *awjo "thing on the water," from PIE root *akwa- "water") + land (n.). The spelling of the first syllable was modified from 16c. by association with similar but unrelated isle. The second sylable was added to distinguish it from homonyms, especially Old English ea"water" (see ea). Similar formation are in Old Frisian eiland, MiddleDutch eyland, German Eiland, Danish öland, etc.
In place names, Old English ieg is often used of "slightly raised dry ground offering settlement sites in areas surrounded by marsh or subject to flooding" [Cambridge Dictionary of English Place-Names], as probably in Isle of Ely. Old English had ealand "river-land, watered place, meadow by a river." As an adjective from 1620s. Island universe "solar system" (1846) translates German Weltinsel(von Humboldt, 1845). Related: Islander.
escapade (n.)
1650s, "an escape from confinement," from French escapade (16c.) "a prank or trick," from Spanish escapada "a prank, flight, an escape," noun use of fem. past participle of escapar "toescape," from Vulgar Latin *excappare (see escape (v.)). Or perhaps the French word is via Italian scappata, from scappare, from the same Vulgar Latin source. Figurative sense (1814) implies a "breaking loose" from rules or restraints on behavior.