TURKEY BURSA - IZNIK

IZNIK (ANCIENT NICAEA)

The county is situated on the eastern shore of Iznik Lake. Iznik was an important tolerant centre during the Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman periods in regard to its administration as well as religious position. The first Ecumenical Council of the Christian Church was held in 325 AD at the Palace of the Senate and the Seventh Ecumenical Council of Christianity, also known as the Second Council of Nicaea, was held in 787 AD in the Ayasofya Church in Iznik.Both councils were extremely influential and many important decisions were taken at these councils.

The city walls of Iznik are still standing, which unfortunately has not been the case for many other historic cities. During its long history Iznik suffered from several powerful earthquakes and on each occasion it was repaired and extensively renovated. The county still proudly displays masterpieces from the Roman to the Ottoman periods.

The city walls of Iznik are still standing, which unfortunately has not been the case for many other historic cities .During its long history Iznik suffered from several powerful earthquakes and on each occasion it was repaired and extensively renovated. The county still proudly displays masterpieces from the Roman to Ottoman periods.

Iznik’s attractive Roman masterpieces are:

1.       the City Walls , which are approximately 5 kilometres long ;

2.       the Lefk and Istanbul Gates on the city walls;

3.       the Theatre

4.        The Stone Bridge and Bestas Monument (Obelisk).

Byzantine masterpieces are:

1.        the famous Ayasofa Church ( now called the Ayasofya Museum);

2.       the Underground Grave ( Hypogeum) with its intricate floral and figurative fescos;

3.       Bocek Ayazmasi ( Holy spring)

4.       The aqueducts

Ottoman masterpieces are:

1.       The Yesil Mosque, famous for  its green tiles

2.       Many other historic tombs, hammams and madrasahs

3.       Iznik lake

4.       Sansarak canyon

5.       The monumental trees provide some of the natural beauty of the region

THE CERAMIC ART OF IZNIK

The ceramic art of Iznik flourished under the Seljuk influence and it gained and a new perspective with the Ottomans. The first major example to the tile decoration of the Ottomans. The first major example to the tile decoration of the Ottomans is the Green Mosque ( yesil Cami) of iznik dating from the 16thand 17^th centuries. The famous Ottoman traveller Evliya Celebi, visited Iznik in the 17^th century and reported that there were 300 tile kilns operating in Iznik. However, during the 18^th century Iznik lost its prime position to Kutahya.

Most of the architectural masterpieces in Istanbul used Iznik tiles. The distinguishing feature  of Iznik tiles are the specific blue, turquoise, green and red colours , as well as the stylized tulip, hyacinth , pomegranate and carnation figures. They also depict animal and ship figures. Included in the collections of the museums all over the world as precious art pieces, the Iznik ceramics have recently begun to be produced again.

IZNIK MUSEUM

The building was constructed in 1388 as a public kitchen in the memory of Nilufer Hatun,mother of Sultan  Murat I, to distribute  food to the needy. One of the best examples of 14^th century Ottoman architecture, it was the first public kitchen built to an inverted “T” plan. During the early period of the Republic the building was used as a warehouse for various purposes and in 1960 it was renovated and opened as a museum. The museum displays some of the archaeological finds from local excavations as well as exploratory digs at some of the tile kilns of Iznik. The museum collection includes archaeological finds from local excavations as well as exploratory digs at some of the tile kilns of Iznik.

IZNIK AYASOFYA MUSEUM

Situated in the centre of Iznik , this monument museum was once the church  which witnessed the 7^th Ecumenical Council in 787, a very  important event for Christianity. It was built in the 4^th century. However, it was demolished after an earthquake in the 11^th century and rebuilt in the shape of a basilica with 3 naves. In 1331, this basilica shaped church was turned into a mosque by Orhan Ghazi.