İZNİK

Situated by the İznik Lake, Nicaea was founded 300 BC by Lycmachus who named the city after his wife. İznik became part of the Roman Empire in 74 BC and became one of the principal cities of Roman Province of Asia. In 78 AD, The town had new city walls built by Roman Proconsul Plancius Varus who wanted to include newly developing areas of Nicea. Plinius the Younger who lived in Nicea as governor in between 111-112 AD had the gymnasium and theatre renovated. The town was restored by Emperor Hadrian after a terrible earthquake in 123 AD. During the Roman centuries, every five years glorious religious festivals were organised in honour of God Dyonisus, the legendary founder of the city. The town had also sportive activities organised in honour of Roman Emperors. Cons minted in Nicea indicate the great festival organisations in honur of Emperors such as Augustus, Commodus, Septimus Severus. The town was badly destroyed by Persians and Goths after the reign of Valerian. The town has got well preserved city walls, gates and major Byzantine and Ottoman monuments. The city was the meeting point of two Eucumenical Consils. First one was in 325 AD under the leadership if Contantine the Great. It was in Nicea Arianisim which denied the divinity of Crist was refused. 362 AD, Julian the Apostate briefly tried to restore pagan religions in Nicea. Emperor Justinian built a palace, baths, aquaducs and a church of which we can still see the remains of. During the 8. century, Nicea was attacked by the Arabs who failed to capture the city. In 787 AD, the Seventh Eucuminical Concil met in Nicea under the reign of Constantine VI who blamed the iconaclasts. During the 11.th century, Turks arrived to İznik region and occupied the region. İznik soon became the fist capital of Seljuk Turks. According to agrement between Crusaders and Byzantine rulers, İznik was given back to Byzantine Empire. After the 4th Crusade, Byzantine Empror Thedore Lascaris took shelter in İznik and establish his own kingdom lasting till 1261. Afer the fll of Bursa in 1326 AD, Sultan Orhan also captured İznik after a long siege. After the conquest of Tebriz and Azerbeycan, Selim had the entire famous tile and ceramic makers come to Istanbul and İznik, which became a great center for tiles and ceramics in the following centuries. Monuments of interest in İznik Saint Sophia Church Visitors enjoy the remains of the Saint Sophia Church where the seventh Ecumenical Church meetings held place in 787 AD. The excavations carried out by Professor Scheneder revealed the existence of three succeeding buildings in Saint Sophia Church. Oldest church, which dates to time of Emperor Justinian the Great, has a mosaic floor consist of marble pieces and an apsis with six steps. It is known that oldest church was destroyed by an earthquake in 1065 AD. A painting belonging to this church decorates the wall of the nave, dated to VII or VIII century AD, and shows a scene of Deisis. Second church was built at the same spot but higher level and decorated marble mosaic walls. In 1331, after the Ottoman conquest, the Church was renovated to meet the needs of the Muslim Population. A mihrap and a minaret were added to the church. Great Ottoman architect Sinan renovated the building. He raised the level of the soil and redecorated the church with tiles made in İznik workshops. With the collapse of the town, the mosque fell into ruins during the course of centuries. City Walls towards the end of the Byzantine Era, double walls, which are well preserved at the certain points, defended İznik. Hellenistic Walls, which are mentioned by Strabo, did not survive up to our time.

Theatre

Walking towards the lake, visitors notice well-preserved wall of this Roman Theatre built during the time of Emperor Trajan. Since the theatre served as marble quarry during the construction of Byzantine walls, very small part of the theatre has survived. Known as Eski Saray ( old place) the theatre was built on might arches and vault on a flat area of the city. Green Mosque

Facing to the Museum of tiles, Green Mosque takes its name from green colored tiles decorating its minaret. The museum and Green mosque has charming gardens. In the springtime, visitors have chance to the storks nesting on the minaret. Market every mecredi is market day in İznik. Preparations start the night before and nearly everything is sold on stalls installed between the Ayasofya and Lefke Gate.

İznik Tiles

The art of tile making in İznik goes back to Byzantine era. However, tile making reached to its Golden Age during the 16th century when Sultan Selim brought all the famous tile makers of Tebriz to İznik after the conquest of Persia. These artists excelled the production of the colored tiles. During the 15th century, İznik produced blue and white colored tiles resembling the Chinese porcelains and tiles with dominating green color. During this period, many important Ottoman structures were decorated with most beautiful Turkish tiles such as Green Mosque, Green Tomb and some 15-century buildings in Istanbul. But the art of tile making in İznik reached its zenith during the mid of the 16th century when coral red color was added to color palette of İznik artists who used mainly tulips, carnations, roses and saz on their tiles. To enjoy the beauty Turkish Tiles, one should visit the Rustempasa, Sokullu, Blue Mosque Mosques, Harem section of the Topkapi Palace and some museums having fine tile collection. The Museum of Turkish Islamic arts