When my time with Turkish Airlines drew to a close, after having explored Istanbul, Ephesus, and Pamukkale together, it was time to strike off on my own.
I paid $8.50 for a ferry ticket from Istanbul to Bursa, a city a few hours south of Istanbul which was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site last year:
“This property is a serial nomination of eight component sites in the City of Bursa and the nearby village of Cumalikizik, in the southern Marmara region. The site illustrates the creation of an urban and rural system establishing the Ottoman Empire in the early 14th century.”
Ulu Cami (Grand Mosque)
The main attraction is Ulu Cami, the Grand Mosque of Bursa, featuring 20 domes, two minarets, and a large water fountain in the middle.
This monumental mosque was built between 1396 – 1399 and is famous for its Islamic calligraphy.
Yesil Mosque (Green Mosque)
Another excellent example of early Ottoman architecture is the Green Mosque, which was built from 1419 – 1421.
Similar to how the Blue Mosque in Istanbul was named after the blue tiles used inside, the Green Mosque features blue and green tile work.
Yesil Turbe (Green Tomb)
More interesting to me was the Green Tomb, a mausoleum where Ottoman Sultan Mehmed I was laid to rest in 1421. It was ordered by the Sultan's son and designed by the same architect as the Green Mosque.
Unlike the mosque, however, the mausoleum features colorful tiles on the exterior as well as the interior.
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Bursa and Cumalikizik: the Birth of the Ottoman Empire became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014. Click here for the full list of UNESCO sites Dave has visited.
Planning a trip? Go Backpacking uses and recommends:
- G Adventures for small group tours
- Skyscanner for researching flights
- Hostelworld for booking hostels
- Airbnb for renting rooms and homes
- Rail Europe for train passes
- World Nomads for travel insurance
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Mosques are just heaven of peace. & these photos are just way to beautiful.
the phots are incredible !!! every mosque i see are very fancy
I just fell in love with your article along with beautiful pictures. It took me virtually to the land of Bursa. The eye-striking mosque gave me a tranquil feel and generated a curiosity to visit this famous place at the earliest.
Hi Dave,
what camera do you use for your travel photography? Maybe you write a post sharing what’s in your bag?
Cheers
Piotr
thanks
Beautiful pics, reminds me of my days living in Istanbul and exploring Turkey
I love this mosque’s details. Awesome shots!
Nice Post! Bursa is a large city in turkey. I like bursa very much. The green tomb is one of my favorite place i always like to go there.
Thanks for sharing
All your posts from Turkey makes me want to book a ticket to the country as soon as possible! I have been doing research and I already feel awestruck with the meticulous detail and wonderful colours and shapes that’s present in Ottoman architecture. Interesting to see remnants of a once powerful empire. I can just imagine the feeling if I see it in person. Thanks for sharing, Dave!
Is Turkey easily accessible for a solo female traveler?
Yes, I think it’s generally okay, but as in many countries, you may get unwanted attention.
The mosque is looking stunning.
How is the security situation generally in Turkey. I want to visit – however bit concerned with recent attacks