Marmara Island

Marmara Island is an island in the Sea of Marmara within Balıkesir Province, Turkey, historically famous for its marble deposits. The island’s stone was quarried since ancient times and supplied marble to Roman and Byzantine builders.

Today the island combines small towns, beaches and exposed quarry sites; its built environment and local economy reflect fishing, agriculture and tourism. Visitors encounter coastal settlements, low hills and visible remnants of historic marble extraction.

Known in antiquity as Proconnesus, the island was a significant source of high-quality marble and figures in historical accounts of regional trade and construction. Modern transport links connect the island to the mainland by regular ferry services.

Marmara Island lies in the central Sea of Marmara between the larger Turkish mainland coasts; main ferry connections serve ports in Balıkesir Province and make the island reachable from nearby coastal towns.

• Ancient marble source: Known historically as Proconnesus or Prokonnesos and noted since antiquity for its high-quality marble used in Roman and Byzantine monuments.
• Ferry connections: Accessible by regular ferries from the Turkish mainland ports in Balıkesir province, making it a day-trip destination from nearby coastal towns.

What to See #

• Marmara town and ports: The main town and ferry ports concentrate services, shops and visitor accommodation and act as starting points for island exploration.
• Marble quarry areas: Historic quarrying sites and outcrops where local marble was extracted, visible around parts of the island and referenced in archaeological literature.