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BURSA
 Ottoman
Capital Bursa
Area:
11.043 km²
Bursa is located in the northwest of the
Anatolian peninsula and southeast of the Marmara Sea. The shores
of the Marmara Sea are 135 km away. The most important peak in
the province is Uludağ, which is a ski resort and national park.
The most significant lakes are Lake Iznik and Lake Uluabat.
The Museum of
Turk-Islam Art (Yesil Medrese)
One of the first Ottoman religious schools, the Yeşil Medrese is
also known as the Sultaniye Medresesi. A number of famous
scholars were trained here in this school, which, along with the
Yeşil Külliyesi (mosque complex), was constructed by the
architect, Hacı İvaz Paşa, between 1414 and 1424. It is very
similar in design to the religious schools of the Anatolian
Selçuks with their open courtyards. The school has 13 rooms with
one main vaulted porch (eyvan), two side porches and an entrance
porch. In front of the classrooms is a portico which surrounds
the courtyard on three sides.
In
the building items from the 12th to the 20th century are on
display and include ceramics, metal, wood carvings, weapons,
hand-written documents, Islamic coins and inscriptions, as well
as grave stones and ethnographic items. The ceramic tile
decorations in the school are not as abundant as those in the
mosque and tomb. The areas decorated with ceramic tile are the
vault above the entrance and the ceiling and outer surface of
the western vaulted porch.
 Green
Mosque (Center): Adornments of the mosque, which is
constructed by Çelebi Sultan Mehmet between 1419 and 1420, was
constructed in 1424 during Murat II period. It is also known as
Yeşil Mosque due to the green turquoise and tiles used on
adornments. Its architect is Hacı İvaz Paşa. It is one of the
most important Ottoman period structure in Bursa, and the mosque
is famous with its adornments much more than its architecture.
Tile adornments are the most important characteristics of the
mosque.
Green tomb (Center): Structure, which is the symbol of
Bursa, is one of the most beautiful samples of Ottoman tomb
architecture. Octagonal structure, to which you can climb via a
marble stair, is covered by a lead dome perched on a high hoop.
It is a unique structure with its tile adornments. Its fully
tile covered balcony is a master piece of art. One of the most
beautiful samples of the Ottoman wooden work,the door was built
by transition technique of walnut tree, adorned with geometrical
motifs and has inscription on it.
 Ulu
Mosque (Center): It was constructed between 1396 and 1400 by
Yıldırım Bayezit, fully made up of cut stone, with very thick
and high walls, 12 heavy four edged grade, with pendantives as
of 20 domes.
It
is the most classical and monumental sample of the multi - domed
mosques. It has the biggest size (318 square meters) among all
of the Turkish mosques with its rich and roomy space. Its
balcony with small tenon panels, finely processed with Greek and
palmettes, parapet networks with geometrical samples,
inscription on its front side and networked corolla is a master
piece of art of transition from Seljuk style to Ottoman style.
According to the rumor related with the construction of
şadırvan; some lands should have been nationalized for
construction of Ulu Mosque. Şadırvan’s place belonged to a
Jewish woman. This woman who did not want to give her land had
seen in her dream one night that everybody was running to the
same direction. She curiously asked them where they were going,
and took the respond of “Heaven!”. She also wanted to run but
they stopped her, as she was not giving her land. Jewish woman
who had impressed much from this dream, had gave her land next
day on condition that they would build a şadırvan.
IZNIK
(Nicea)
 İznik,
with its thousand of years cultural heritage, occupied an
important place in history. Having been the capital of four
empires, it is one of the remarkable settlement places.
History
There are traces of a civilisation dates back to 2500 BC in
Karadin, Çiçekli, Yüğücek and Çakırca Mounds near İznik. The
settlement before the immigrations of Trak Tribes in the 7th
century BC, took the name of Helikare. The word of
‘Khryseapolis’ (Golden City) was printed on the coins having
been minted in the city.
Having been renovated by Antigonos, General of Macedonia Emperor
Alexander the Great in 316 BC, the city took the name of
Antigoneia. After the death of Alexander the Great, the city was
handed over to General Lysimakhos who won the battle against
Antigonos and named the city as Nicaea, which was also the name
of his wife. In 293 BC, it became a part of Bithynia Kingdom.
During this period, the city was decorated with important
architectural structures. Nicaea, having been the capital city
of Bithynia Kingdom for a period, later on continued its
presence as an important settlement area of the Romans.
Nicaea got acquainted with Christianity by the efforts of Petrus,
one of the disciples of Bithynia. During the reign of Emperor
Constantine I, the prohibitions on Christianity were removed. In
the early summer of 325 AD, Nicaea was the scene of an important
meeting of 1st Consul in Senatus Palace. A text comprising of 20
articles, known as Nicaea Laws, and Christianity Feast Days were
approved after this consul.
In
787 AD, 7th Consul gathered in Hagia Sophia Church in İznik. The
prohibitions on paintings and statues were removed under the
leadership of Empress Irene.
İznik has also
been the capital city of the Seljuks and Byzantines through
history.
After having been captured by the Ottoman Army in 1331, İznik
became a more active city and a centre of art, culture and trade.
Many famous people lectured in Orhan Ghazi Madrasah during this
period. The first Mosque, Madrasa and İmaret (Soup Kitchen) of
Ottoman Period were built in İznik.
Iznik became an art centre during 14th and 15th centuries, and
world wide famous tiles and ceramics were produced here. Its
city texture, with its grid-planned city settlement from
Hellenistic Age and monumental structures from the Romans,
Byzantines and Ottomans, has still been preserving.
Bursa - Uludag
National Park
Location:
Uludag is 30km southeast of Bursa.
Transportation:
A cable car makes the journey up to Uludag from Bursa to the
Sarilan Plain, which takes around 20 minutes, and then a dolmus
to the hotel area of the park. The mountain road, 34km from
Bursa, is open throughout the year. There is also a private
helicopter service from Istanbul which takes 25 minutes.
Highlights:
Uludag (Great Mountain) is 2543m high, making it the highest
point in the Marmara region, and the Aras Waterfalls and
glaciers at the peak are its most interesting geographical
features. The steep slopes mean that plant life varies widely
between the Bursa plane and the peak, something which has been
analised by botanical scientists and has made Uludag prominent
around the world in this type of research.
The suitable conditions have also formed a habitat for many
species of animal and bird life, like bears, wolves, jackals,
foxes, roe deer, rabbits, pigs, partridges, wild pigeons,
vultures, eagles, black kites, nightingales and goldcrests. The
Bakacak watchtower at Cobankaya gives a great view over the
surrounding area.
Between December and May, Uludag is covered with snow sometimes
up to 4m deep, making it suitable for skiing, and it is one of
the most popular winter sports centres in Turkey |
