IZNIK (NICAEA)

Iznik is in the Marmara Region of Turkey near Bursa. It was an important religious center in the Roman and Byzantine Eras. The first and seventh Meetings of the Ecumenical Council were held here. The seventh Ecumenical council was prompted by the iconoclastic controversy and eventually led to the division between Rome and Constantinople. There are still many remains from the Ottomans and Seljuks and the town is laid out in Roman plan with four gates. Here are some of the interesting things you can see in Iznik:

The city walls of Iznik

The Iznik city walls measure 4970 meters in length and were built around the town in the shape of a pentagon. They were first built in the Hellenistic age, but took their present shape during the Roman and Byzantine times. Iznik, through its history was always in danger of attack, and in the 8th century the walls were strengthened with stones taken from the theater. Additional towers were also built at this time. Two of the gates

	(Lefke Gate and Constantinople or Istanbul Gate) are still in good condition. According to some historians the gates were originally built as victory arches. The Istanbul Gate is one of the most interesting parts of the Iznik City walls as masks from the theater were used in the construction. You can also see box-makers hard at work in this area of Iznik.
Istanbul Gate

Ceramic arts in Iznik

Near this gate is a wonderful ceramic atelier and shop owned by an artisan couple, whom we had the pleasure to meet on a recent visit to Iznik. Adil Can and Nursan his wife make incredible quality reproductions by authentic methods. If you visit their shop you will see collections of reproductions of pottery and ceramics starting from even before the Bronze Age, also Seljuk, Byzantine, Canakkale ceramics, special slip work and more. Below are some pictures of Adil and Nursan and their ceramic showroom.
To see their lovely products online type http://www.anatolian-arts.com/urunler.asp

The Haghia Sofia and churches of Iznik
 

The Church of St. Sophia is situated almost in the very center of Iznik, where the two main roads meet. It was built in the Byzantine era and repaired after the earthquakes that hit in the 11th century. This church has a sacred significance for Christian pilgrims. Orhan Gazi converted the church into a mosque in 1331. Other churches in Iznik are the Church of the Koimesis, which is
only ruins now and the Church of Hagios Tryphonos.

The Iznik Museum
 

The Iznik Museum is definitely worth a visit. It is housed in the Nilufer Hatun soup kitchen which is a well-preserved example of 14th century Ottoman architecture, built by Sultan Murat ! in 1388. The entrance of the building is a gallery covered with a dome and arched vaults, carried by columns and pedestals. Three brick layers and a single stone layer technique were used

in the building. The garden of the Iznik Museum has works of art from Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman periods. In the museum itself are pieces from the Ilipinar Theater and kiln furnace excavations. In the main area of the museum you can see prehistoric tiles, Greek, Roman and Byzantine ceramic ware, stone work, glassware, coins, ornaments, jewelry and more. There are many examples of the famous Iznik tiles.

The Green Mosque
 

Across the street from the museum is the Green mosque, named after the color of its minaret, which is covered with green tiles in a zig-zag pattern in special Seljuk design. Construction of the Green Mosque was started in 1378 by Candarli Hayrettin Pasa. Other interesting mosques in Iznik include: The Mahmut Celebi mosque, The Seyh Kutbetting mosque and tomb,
the Haci Ozbek Mosque and the Esref-i Rumi Mosque.

The Ismail Bey Hamam

This old Turkish bath is the most interesting in Iznik, with domes that feature swirling designs. Ismail Bey Turkish bath was built between the end of the 14th and beginning of the 15th century.

Other Turkish baths are the Haci Hamza Hamam, which is next to the Mahmut Celebi mosque and is still functioning, the Maydan Hamam and Orhan Bey Hamam.

No visit to Iznik is complete without seeing the Suleyman Pasa school of theology, which was built by Orhan Gazi’s son in 1332. There are now small ceramic art galleries and workshops in the complex.

Iznik can be reached by taking the ferry from Yenikapi in Istanbul. You see the Prince’s Islands as you cross the sea of Marmara. Upon arrival in Yalova there are buses to Iznik.

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