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Muradiye Complex
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The city of Bursa, southeast of the Sea of
Marmara, lies on the lower slopes of Uludag (Mt.
Olympos of Mysia, 2443 meters). The city
derives its name from its founder Prusias,
King of Bithynia.It subsequently came under
Roman, then Byzantine rule before falling to
Osman Bey in 1326 becoming the first capital
of the Ottoman Empire.Many important Ottoman
buildings remain. |
Osman Gazi Street
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Known as "Green Bursa", the city ,is filed
with gardens and parks and overlooks a verdant
plain. It is at the center of an important
fruit growing region. Bursa was, and is still,
famous for its silk trade,towel manufacture
and thermal springs. You must taste locally
invented Iskender Kebab, a dish of bread,tomato
sauce, strips of grilled meat,melted butter
and yoghurt. Candied chestnuts are another
regional speciality.
A tour of the city degins in tne eastern
section at the Yesil Turbe (Green Mausoleum).
Set in a garden and distinguished by its
paneling of blue tiles, the mausoieum holds
the tiled cenotaph of Sultan Menmet I. Across
the street, the Yesil Mosque of 1424 reflects
the new Ottoman,as opposed to Seljuk,
aesthetic. A medrese nearby completes the
complex which is also home to the
Ethnographical Museum. Before exploring this
area, stop for a glass of tea in one of the
traditionai tea houses. Uphill, to the east,
you pass by the Emir Sultan Mosque in its
delightful setting, and after walking through
a district of old houses you reach the
Yildirim Beyazit (1391). |
Now make your way to Cumhuriyet Square(known
locally as Heykel) and stroll along Ataturk
Avenue to Koza Park where outdoor cafes are
set among flowers and fountains. At the back
of the park, a long building. the Koza Han
(1490), houses the trade in Silk cocoons. From
here you proceed to the covered bazaar area,
with its narrow streets, caravanserais and
bedesten. On the other side of Koza Park
stands the Orhan Gazi Mosque built in 1413 and
one of Bursa's oldest religious buildings.
Nearby the large UIu Mosque was constructed in
the Seijuk style. A finely carved walnut
mimber and impressive calligraphic panels
decorate the mosque. The sadirvan (ablutions
fountain) lies unusually within the mosque it
self under the ceiling of twenty domes.
Walking west from the Ulu Mosque you arrive at
Hisar,an old and picturesque quarter of Bursa.
In the park that overlooks the valley are the
mausoleums of Osman, the founder of the
Ottoman Empire, and his son Orhan Gazi who
commanded the army that conquered Bursa.The
cafes of Tophane offer a good place to stop
for refreshment. Nearby in Ressamlar Sokak (Artists
Street) local artists work in the open air.
At the Yildiz Park Tea Gardens in the Muradiye
quarter, you get a superb view of the Muradiye
Complex. The compound, in a tranquil park-like
setting, contains the Mosque of Sultan Murat
II. (1426) built in the style of the Yesil
Mosque and the tombs of Murat II, Cem and
Sehzade Mustafa. These contain some of the
loveliest decoration and tile work. The nearby
Ottoman House Museum in a restored 17th
century dwelling provides an interesting
glimpse of the lives of wealthy Ottomans.
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Silk Cocoons
Doner Kebap |
Tophane |
Other places of interest in Bursa include the
Culture Park with the Bursa Archaeological
Museum and the Ataturk Museum on the road to
Cekirge.
The western suburb of Cekirge has been known
since Roman times for its warm, mineral-rich
springs. Many modern hotels have thermal bath
facilities and you can as well visit the old
hamams. Yeni Kaplica (New Spring) was built by
Suleyman the Magnificent's Grand Vizier,
Rustem Pasa, in 1552. The Eski Kaplica (Old
Spring), built on the site of the original
Byzantine baths, is the oldest bath. The
Karamustafa Pasa baths are reputed to have the
best hot mineral waters in Bursa. Buildings of
interest in Cekirge include the Mosque and
Mausoleum of Murat I. and the tomb of Suleyman
Celebi, a religious poet. The monument to
Karagoz commemorates the character whose
humorous antics are immortalized in Turkish
shadow puppet theater. |
UIudag is the largest winter sports center in
Turkey and offers a variety of activities,
accommodation and entertainment. Thirty-six
kilometers from Bursa, the slopes are easily
reached by car or cable car (teleferik).
December to May are the best months for skiing,
although the area, which is a national park,
is well worth a visit at any time of the year
for the lovely views and wonderful fresh air.
A seaside resort town 25 km from Bursa,
Mudanya's fine fish restaurants and nightclubs
are popular with the residents of Bursa. The
Armistice Museum is worth a visit. Just 12 km
from Mudanya, Zeytinbagi (Tirilye) exemplifies
the architecture and layout of a typical
Turkish town.
The Gulf of Gemlik, 29 km from Bursa has wide
sandy beaches; Armutlu and Kumla are the
favorites. |
Uludag ski center |
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