TURKEY BURSA - HISTORICAL BUILDINGS

HISTORICAL BUILDINGS

FORTRESS OF BURSA

The construction of the fortress started in the 1^st century BC and it was enlarged and renovated according to changing needs during the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman periods.

Today the length of the city walls building was collected and used in the construction of the city walls so you may see a sarcophagus, tomb stele or inscription tablet built into the walls.

During the period of Orhan Ghazi, the walls were reinforced with triangular towers. Today the fortress displays the traces in the past in all its glory to visitors

YILDIRIM COMPLEX

Most of the complex was completed during the reign of Sultan Yildirim Bayezid and it is situated in the Yildirim Neighbourhood in the centre of Bursa.

In the 1390s, the Mosque was commissioned to be built on top of a hill by Sultan Yldirim Bayezid. It has an inverted “T” plan. During an earthquake in the 19th century both minarates collapsed.

The present minaret was added later. The original Madrash situated to the north-west of the mosque is used as a dispensary. To the west is the Hamam (bathhouse), which was built of rough stone in a square shape andis covered by a dome. 250 metres to the east is the first Ottoman hospital, the Darussia .

The tomb of Sultan Yildirim Bayezid was commissioned within the complex by his son, Sultan Suleyman Han, in 1403, following his father’s death

 The Yildirim Bedesten (covered bazaar) is situated across from The Yildirim Complex, on the road from Ulu Mosque. Being the first bedesten of the Ottoman Empire, it was commissioned by Sultan Yildirim Bayezid towards the end of the 14^th century.

The 14 domes of the building are located on circular arches, which are supported by masonry pillars. In each façade there is a portal.

Today the bedesten serves as a jewellers’ bazaar and has 32 shops facing the inner courtyard and 68 shops facing the outer courtyard,

YESIL COMPLEX

The Yesil (Green ) Mosque is one of the building making up the complex in the Yesil Neighbourhood and has an inverted T-shaped ( winged) plan. Its architect was HAdji Ivaz Pasha. It is considered to be one of the masterpieces of early Ottoman architecture and one of the prime architecture buildings in Bursa due to its superb masonry and glazed tiles.

To the south east of the mosque is the Yesil Imaret (public kitchen), which was built during the early 15^th century. Now partially ruined, this was the public kitchen where Celebi Mehmet (later Sultan Mehmet I) personally served food to the poor every Friday.

The Yesil Tomb was commissioned by Celebi Mehemet to the architect, Haci Ivaz Pasha, in 1421. With its octagonal plan and a basement burial chamber it reflects the style of the Seljuk tombs. Due to the color of the glazed tiles on the walls it is popularly known as the Green Tomb and it is really identified with Bursa.

This octagonal planned tomb was topped with a large lead-clad dome supported by a high and plastered drum. The doors, intricately worked with rumi figures (Anatolian line art, consisting of symmetric and complex curves), palmette and roses, are very attractive. Beyond the portal, the inner sanctum is covered with turquoise coloured tiles Here stands the most magnificent mihrab clad with tiles.The colours are superb and it resembles the mihrab of yesil Mosque with iits fluted pilasters , muqarnas ( stalactite niche) , rumi patterns , palmette and curling branch motifs and scripts.

To the west of the tombs is the Yesil Hamam ( bathhouse), built by Turbedar ( tomb keeper) Kose Ali Pasha ( Sofu Bedreddin) during the reign of the Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror in order to provide a steady income for the Yesil Madrasah.

EMIR SULTAN

The  Emir Sultan Neighbourhood situated to the east of the Yesil Complex derives its name from a Turkish scholar who was born in Bukhara. The Emir Sultan Mosque is situated next to the Emir Sultan graveyard and has a single dome placed on an actogonal drum. There are two minarets on both side of the north fascade. To the north of the mosque stands the Tomb where the sarcophagi of Emir Sultan’s wife, Hundi Hatun and his two daughters can be found. To the south stands the Hamam (bathhouse), which was commissioned by Hundi Hatun and repaired in the 17^th and 18^th centuries.

IRGANDI BRIDGE 

The historic Irgandi Bridge, which was built over the Gokdere stream, is a curious rarity as it is a bridge with a market on it. Along the span of the bridge there are shops on both sides of the roadway and today they are occupied by cafes and shops selling handicrafts.

TOPHANE PARK

Tophane Park with its majestic plane trees provides the backdrop to the panorama of the city. Tophane Park also houses the Tomb of Osman Ghazi, the Tomb of Orhan Ghazi and the Clock Tower.

The Clock Tower was built in 1906 as a 6 storey building reaching 25 metres high.

THE TOMB OF OSMAN GHAZI

The story goes that while Bursa was under siege, Osman Ghazi (1258-1326) pointed out a building with a silver dome to his son, Orhan Ghazi and told him , “ My son, when I die, bury me under that silver dome”.Following his death he was buried according to his wishes. The tomb is situated to the left of the entrance to Tophance Park and is an octagonal building covered by a dome. The entrance to the tomb is through a wooden portal. The Ghazi’s mother of pearl inlaid timber sarcophagus is surrounded by a brass railing.

THE TOMB OF ORHAN GHAZI

The tomb is situated to the right of the entrance to Tophane Park. The original building collapsed in the earthquake of 1855 and it was rebuilt by Sultan Abdulaziz in 186.The dome and vaulted ceiling are supported by 4 thick columns with pointed arches. The interior is plastered.

THE MOSQUE OF ORHAN BEY

It is known as the oldest mosque built by Sultan. Situated across from Municipality building, the mosque was built by Orhan Ghazi in 1339. The mosque was renovated by Sultan Celebi Mehmet in 1417 and its architecture and decorations reflect the plain theme of early Ottoman art.

ULU CAMI ( THE GRAND MOSQUE)

In almost all of the principal cities in Turkey there is at least one “grand “mosque. However, the Grand Mosque of Bursa is the grandest and most important one. The mosque was commissioned between the year 1396 and 1400 by Sultan Yildirim Bayezid and is close to the Municipality building. It is renowned as the largest Ottoman mosque built before the conquest of Istanbul.

The mosque is one of the most impressive examples of rectangular shaped mosques covered by a multitude of domes with 3 entrance portals. Its 20 domes sit on thick stone walls and 12 pillars supported with arches and pendentives. Tkiva; the striking parts of the building are: the portal carved by Mehmed bin Abdulaziz Dakiva; the wooden carved pulpit with inlays, the muezzin’s platform supported by walnut columns and the elegant mihrab.

Besides its  architectural features the quality of  the wood carving and calligraphy-based decorations give the Grand Mosque a unique place among the buildings of Bursa.

MURADIYE COMPLEX

The complex gave its name to the neighbourhood and its most important building is the Muradiye Mosque , which as commissioned by Sultan Murat II between the years 1424 and 1426. The mosque was built to an inverted “T” plan and its wooden carved portal is one of the most magnificent examples. The dome and vaults over the late congregants’ space are supported by 4 pillars and 2 columns. The main internal space is covered by 2 domes and the sides covered by  semi domes , thereby enlarging it. It was the last mosque to be commissioned by an Ottoman sovereign during his reign.

To the west of the mosque stands the Meradiye Madrash that was built during the reign of Sultan Murat II. The portal is one the north façade. In the middle of the madrasah is a square courtyard and the south side is a dome covered large portico. Its walls are decorated with deep blue and green tiles. There is an octagonal pool in the middle of the courtyard. The rooms behind the porticoes are covered with pointed (ribbed) vaults. The bricklaying and bonding work of the madrasah is also very attractive.

Near the Muradiye Mosque stands the Muradiye Hamman and Muradiye Imarethanesi (public kitchen).

The Muradiye  Neighboourhood also contains the resting places and tombs of many members of the early Ottoman dynasty. The tomb of Sultan Murat II as well as the tombs of Sehzad( Sultan’s son) Mustafa, Sultan Cem, Sehzade Ahmet, Sehzade Mahmut and Sehzade Mustafa and the  tombs of female members of the dynasty such as HAtuniye, Saraylilar (the Odalisque) , Mukrime Hatun, Guilsah Hatun, Ebbe Hatun, Gulruh Sultan and Sirin Hatun are situated in the neghbourhood . The superb masonry and brick work as well as the tile decorations of these tombs are dazzling. These tombs are important places to visit for tourists as well as domestic visitors.

THE TOMB OD SULEYMAN CELEBI

The tomb of Suleyman Celebi, the author of Mevlid- I Seri ( the hymn to the holy nativity) , is situated on the road leading to the Cekirge  Neighbourhood . Between the years 1945 and 1952), Hasim Iscan, then provincial governor, lead a group  of phianthropists  to build a tomb for Suleyman Celebi and transfer the grave from the courtyard of the Grand Mosque to the newly built tomb. It was built with kufeki limestone with an 8 pillar supported canopy covering a marble sarcophagus.

MONUMENTAL GRAVE OF KARAGOZ –HACIVAT

The grave of Karagoz –Hacivat is a memorial monument on the road leading to the Cekirge Neighbourhood , where the symbolic graves representing the characters of the famous shadow play Karagoz are set among the cypresses of the Yogurtcu Baba graveyard.

SULTAN MURAT I (HUDAVENDIGAR) COMPLEX

Located in Cekirge Neighbourhood , the mosque within the complex was built by Sultan Murat I between the years 1365 and 1366. The ground floor of the 2 storey building with its striking architectural features was designed as a mosque and the first floor was designed as madrasah.With respect to its plan,it is considered to be one of the best examples of inverted “T” shaped mosques. Across from the mosques stands the Tomb of Sultan Murat I. Sultan Murat I, the third sovereign of the Ottoman dynasty, was martyred at the end of the First Kosovo War in 1369 and his son Sultan Tildrim Bayezid commissioned his tomb.

MERNOS TRAIN STATION   

The Merinos Train Station was at the terminus of the railway station between Bursa and Mudanya that operated between 1892 and 1951. The length of the railway was approximately 4 kilometres (26 miles) and it had 6 stations. Silks from Bursa as well as products from the Bursa Plain were taken from here to the port of Mudanya for export. The station building was restored and opened to the public. One of the steam locomotives that operated on the line is on display.

CARVANSERAIS

Bursa has been an important city throughout the Roman, Buzantine and Ottoman periods and as a staging post on the Silk Road, contained several historic buildings that were built to last and that are still intact today. One of the various types of historic buildings is the “Han” or “Caravanserai”, which provided safe stopover accommodation for the traders plying their trade between east and west. Among these architecturally and functionally attractive caravanserais, Koza Han, Emirhan , Fidan , Ipek , Geyve and Pirinc are important. Koza Han, in which there are shops selling silk fabric, is one of the prime shopping centres in Bursa preferred by visitors.

SYNAGOGUES

In Bursa, buildings from the 3 min religious can be seen. The Etz Chaim (tree of life)Syngogue was the first synagogue built during the Ottoman period. The Gerus (Exiled) Synagogue) and the Mayor (Resettled Jews from Mallorca) Synagogue are other important Jewish religious buildings.