Yeşil
Cami
Known as "Green Bursa",
this province stands on the lower slopes of Uludag (Mount Olympos
of Mysia, 2543 m). The title "Green" of Bursa comes from its gardens
and parks, and of course from its being in the middle of an important
fruit growing region. In Bursa there are things you should not miss.
First of all you are in the homeland of the delicious "Iskender
Kebap". The candied chestnuts are a specialty and have an unforgettable
taste. The peaches of Bursa are unique. As for something to purchase;
Bursa is a center of the silk trade and towel manufacturing. It
is also the homeland of the very famous Turkish folklore figures,
Karagoz and Hacivat.Because
of its being the first Ottoman capital, Bursa is very rich in religious
monuments, mosques, and tombs (turbes), baths. One of the places
to be seen in Bursa is the Yesil Mosque (Green Mosque), with its
carved marble doorway which is one of the best in Anatolia. It is
an elaborate and significant building in the new Turkish style.
Just opposite, is the Yesil Tomb "Green Tomb", set in a green garden
with an enchanting exterior decorated with turquoise tiles. Near
the tomb, the Medresse complements the others and makes this the
"green" trio, now it houses the Ethnographical Museum which certainly
deserves visiting. The Yildirim Beyazit Mosque is important as it
is the first one built in the new Ottoman style and is accompanied
by the Emir Sultan Mosque which lies in a peaceful setting. The
province is decorated with these monuments-each of which is a masterpiece.
Here are the Ulu Mosque built in the Seljuk style, with impressive
calligraphic wall decorations; the Orhan Gazi Mosque; the "Hisar"
an attractive part of the province, and in the park the Mausoleums
of Osman, the founder of the Ottoman Empire, and his son Orhan Gazi.
The Muradiye Complex has a delightful view with its mosque and tombs
of important characters from the Ottoman era and their tiles and
charming decorations appeal to the sightseers. The Ottoman Museum
offers a lively exhibit of the traditional life style of Ottomans.
Something you will enjoy in
Bursa are the warm, mineral-rich springs; indeed most of the hotels
in this province have thermal bath facilities. The Turkish baths
"hamam" are great places which should be visited in Bursa. The Eski
Kaplica (Old Spring) is the oldest in the province. The Karamustafa
Pasha Baths are famous, and boast the best hot, mineral waters.
As for souvenirs, you should
visit the Covered Bazaar, "Bedesten", or the Koza Han-an attractive
building and also a center of silk trade. It is certain that Bursa
will take some of time for you to see and add some more delightful
experiences to your memories.
Environs:
Uludag is the largest and most
celebrated winter-sports center in Turkey. It is 36 kms from Bursa
and easily accessible by car or cable-car (teleferik). The area
is also a national park and is worth a visit at any time of the
year. The accommodation is high quality offering the opportunity
to enjoy, with a variety of entertainment and sports activities.
Mudanya is a seaside resort
town from fine fish restaurants and night-clubs there so you can
have a pleasant
Zeytinbagi (Trilye) is a town
of typical Turkish architecture and lay out. There are sea bus and
ferry connections with Istanbul.
Gemlik (27 km north), is another
seaside resort with a wide, sandy beach.
Iznik (Nicaea) lies 85 kms
northeast of Bursa, at the eastern tip of Lake knik. The town has
witnessed many civilizations which have left their marks all over
the land. This town is famous for its unique tiles and has been
the center of tile production in the 16th century. Iznik tiles were
the basic decorative element of Seljuk and Ottoman architecture.
The turquoise-tiled Yesil Mosque and Nilufer Hatun imareti are among
the Islamic works in the town
Formerly BRUSA, original name
PRUSA, city, northwestern Turkey, along the northern foothills of
Ulu Dag (the ancient Mysian Olympus). Probably founded by a
Bithynian king in the 3rd century BC, it prospered during Byzantine
times after the emperor Justinian I (reigned AD 527-565) built a palace
there. The city first fell to the Seljuq Turks at the end of the 11th
century, but, beginning with the First Crusade in 1096, it changed
hands several times. After the sack of Constantinople (Istanbul) by
crusaders in 1204, it served as a centre of Byzantine resistance.
The Ottomans took it in the 1320s and made it their first great capital;
but Timur (Tamerlane) sacked the city in 1402, and, when the Ottomans
recovered their territory, they relocated their capital, first to
Edirne (1413) and later to Constantinople (1458). Bursa, nevertheless,
expanded and prospered under Ottoman rule.
Set among orchards watered
by plentiful mountain streams, Bursa is a city of brightly
coloured houses and winding streets dotted with fountains. It retains
its Ottoman flavour and contains some of the outstanding examples
of Ottoman architecture. Among its mosques, Ulu Mosque (1421) is
a vast building with 20 domes, noted for the variety and fineness
of its calligraphic ornamentation. Yesil Mosque (1421) marked
the beginning of a purely Turkish style; it includes a theological
college, library, and ablution fountain. Nearby is the Yesil
Mausoleum, containing the tomb of Sultan Mehmed I. The Muradiye
Mosque (15th century) is surrounded by the tombs of sultans and
their families. On a terrace overlooking the city are the tombs
of Osman I, founder of the Ottoman dynasty, and his son Orhan. A
15th-century theological school houses the city's archaeological
museum. Bursa's several baths, fed by thermal springs famous
in Roman times, include medieval structures that incorporated material
from Justinian's imperial baths from the 6th century.
Bursa's silk industry
has a long heritage; the city was a centre of silk trade in the
15th century and by the 17th century was famous in Europe and Asia
for its silk textiles, which are still produced. Other industries
include cotton and woolen textiles, canned foods and dairy products,
and machinery. Bursa is the site of Bursa University
(1975) and is linked by air with Istanbul. It has long been a favourite
tourist centre. Pop. (1985) 612,510.
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