by Emily | June 3, 2022 | Culture and History, Iznik, See, Do, and Play
Bursa is a city of artisans. From woven silks to shadow puppetry, the variety and expertise is astounding. One of Bursa’s most unique historical artforms is found in the ceramic studios of Iznik. During one of our visits to Iznik, we decided to browse the Iznik...
by Can B | April 20, 2022 | Bursa's Neat Places, Culture and History, Eat, Shop, and Stay, Osmangazi
Historians tell us that Prusias I, the king of Bithynia, laid out the city plans for Bursa with the aid of Hannibal, the famous Carthaginian general, between 185-184 B.C. Hannibal came to Bithynia after Carthage lost the “2nd Pontic War” with Rome. His popularity had...
by Can B | December 29, 2021 | Bursa's Neat Places, Culture and History, Yildirim
Part 1: The Village of Zeyniler Part 2: Along the Water Way Part 3: Beyond the Village Zeyniler is a quiet village overlooking a gorgeous valley on the slopes of Uludağ mountain, yet surprisingly close to downtown Bursa. The village is only 6 km from the Grand Mosque...
by Emily | August 6, 2021 | Bursa's Neat Places, Culture and History, Fall, Iznik, Spring, Summer
The county of Iznik is certainly one of Bursa’s most historically robust areas. As a city that had been conquered and ruled by the Romans, Byzantines, Seljuks, and Ottomans, the layers to its past are still being uncovered. As a tourist visiting the community, it’s...
by Emily | July 16, 2021 | Bursa's Neat Places, Culture and History, Eat, Shop, and Stay, Nilüfer, See, Do, and Play, Summer
Growing up, my mom always said, “Chocolate makes everything a little better.” My Chocolate Bursa, our city’s first museum dedicated to the art of handmade Belgian chocolates, certainly takes that idea to heart! The museum officially opened July 9th, complete with the...
by Emily | April 24, 2021 | Culture and History, Gemlik, Miscellany, Thoughts and Musings
My husband is a history buff. One of his favorite pastimes since living in Turkey has been to discover all the many ancient church ruins in Bursa. Sometimes me and the kids humor him and go along for a nice drive and a picnic along the way. One such adventure took us...
by Jesse | March 21, 2021 | Bursa's Neat Places, Culture and History, Eat, Shop, and Stay, Miscellany, See, Do, and Play, Yenisehir
Located within just minutes walking distance from the central roundabout in the heart of the city, Sinanpaşa Külliyesi (See-nahn-pah-shah koo-leh-see) is where you can encounter a renovated modern social services facility. Original construction of the building started...
by Emily | March 11, 2021 | Bursa's Neat Places, Culture and History, Eat, Shop, and Stay, Karacabey, See, Do, and Play, Travel Tips and Visiting Info
One of the most unique historical features of Turkey is its Hans (inns) or Keravansarays (caravan palaces). During the days of the ancient silk road, these hospitality venues were sometimes opulent locations frequented by merchants–traveling in groups for...
by Emily | September 26, 2020 | Bursa's Neat Places, Culture and History, Fall, See, Do, and Play, Summer
As the weather begins to cool down and lead us into Fall, one of our favorite pastimes (even more emphasized due to COVID-19) is hiking! Last week, we took a morning to find the trailheads of Nilufer county’s Mysia Yollari. Mysia was an ancient geographic region, here...
by Dennis | January 22, 2016 | Bursa's Neat Places, Culture and History, Osmangazi
Bursa Grand Mosque (or Great Mosque) is a prominent landmark in Bursa’s downtown. With its two towering minarets and 20 domes, the building is one of the most impressive and important in Bursa. Ulu Cami’i is considered the fifth most important mosque in Islam, after...
