BURSA
The
city of Bursa, southeast of the Sea of Marmara, lies on the lower slopes
of Uludag (Mt.
Olympos of Mysia, 2,443 meters). The city derives its name from its founder
Prusias, King of Bithynia. It subsequently came under Roman, then
Byzantine
rule before falling to Orhan Gazi in 1326, becoming the first capital of
the Ottoman Empire. Many important Ottoman buildings remain. Known as "Green
Bursa", the city is filled with gardens and parks and overlooks a verdant
plain. It is at the center of an important fruit growing region. Bursa
was, and is still, famous for its silk trade, towel manufacture and thermal
springs. You must taste locally invented Iskender Kebab, a dish of bread,
tomato sauce, strips of grilled meat, melted butter and yogurt. Candied
chestnuts are another regional speciality. A tour of the city begins in
the eastern section at the Yesil Turbe (Green Mausoleum). Set in a garden
and distinguished by its paneling of blue tiles, the mausoleum holds the
tiled cenotaph of Sultan Mehmet I. Across the street, the Yesil Mosque
of 1424 reflects the new Ottoman, as opposed to Seljuk, aesthetic. A medrese
nearby completes the complex, which is also home to the Ethnography Museum.
Before exploring this area, stop of tea in one of the traditional tea houses.
Uphill,
to the east, you pass, by the Emir Sultan Mosque in its delightful setting,
and after walking through a 
district
of old houses you reach the Yildirim Beyazit [1391] Now make your way to
Cumhuriyet Square [known locally as Heykel] and stroll along Ataturk Avenue
to Koza Park where outdoor cafes are set among flowers and fountains.At
the back of the park , a long building, the Koza Han (1490), houses the
trade in silk cocoons. From here you proceed to the covered bazaar area,
with its narrow streets caravanserais and bedesten. On the other side of
Koza Park stands the Orhan Gazi Mosque, built in 1413, and one of Bursa's
oldest religious buildings. Nearby the large Ulu Mosque was constructed
in the Seljuk style. A final carved walnut mimber (speaker's platform),and
impressive calligraphic panels decorate the mosque. The sadirvan (ablutions
fountain) lies unusally within the mosque itself under ceiling of twenty
domes.
Walking
west from the Ulu Mosque you arrive at Hisar, an old and picturesque quarter
of Bursa. In the park that overlooks the valley are the mausoleums of Osman,
the founder of the Ottoman Empire, and his son Orhan Gazi, 
who
commanded the army that conquered Bursa. The cafes of Tophane offer a good
place to stop for refreshment. In nearby Ressamlar Sokak (Painters' Street),
local artists work in the open air. At the Yildiz Park Tea Gardens in the
Muradiye quarter, you get a superb view of the Muradiye Complex. The compound,
in a tranquil park-like setting, contains the Mosque of Sultan Murat II
(1426) built in the style of the Yesil Mosque and the tombs of Murat 11,
Sehzade Cem and Sehzade Mustafa. These contain some of the loveliest decoration
and tile work. The nearby Ottoman House Museum in a restored 17th century
dwelling provides an interesting glimpse into the lives of wealthy Ottomans.
Other places of interest in Bursa include the Culture Park with the Bursa
Archaeological Museum,and the Ataturk Museum on the road to Cekirge. The
western suburb of Cekirge has been known since Roman times for its warm
mineral-rich springs. Many modern hotels have thermal bath facilities and
you can also visit the old hamams. Yeni Kaplica [new spring] was built
by Suleyman the Magnificents Grand Vizier, Rustem Pasa, in 1552.The Eski
Kaplica [old spring], built on the site of the original Byzantine baths
, is the oldest bath .The Karamustafa Pasa baths are reputed to have the
best hot mineral waters in Bursa. 
Buildings
of interest in Cekirge include the Mosque and Mausoleum of Murat I and
the tomb of Suleyman Celebi, a religious poet. the monument to Karagoz
commemorates the character whose humorous antics are immortalized in Turkish
shadow puppet theater. Uludag
is the largest winter-sports center in Turkey and offers a variety of activities,
accommodation and entertainment thirty-six kilometers from Bursa, the slopes
are easily reached by car or cable car [teleferik]. December to May is
the best time for skiing, although the area , which a national park , is
well worth a visit at any time of the year for the lovely views and wonderful
fresh air. A seaside resort town 25 km from Bursa , Mudanya's fine fish
restaurants and nightclubs are popular with the residents of Bursa. The
Aarmistice museum is worth a visit. Just 12 km from Mudanya, Zeytinbagi
[tirilye] exemplifies the architecture and layout of a typical Turkish
town.
BANDIRMA
Bandirma,
is today an important commercial and industrial harbor second only to Istanbul.
You can spend a pleasant afternoon in the town's restaurants and cafes.
Belkis (Kyzikos) lies ten kilometers west of Bandirma. In this ancient
city on the Kapidag Peninsula's isthmus, the Temple of Hadrian, a theater
and aqueducts still stand, captivating visitors. 
The
Kuscenneti National Park near Lake Manyas is an ornithological site where
239 different species of birds flourish. Every year, over three million
birds fly through this preserve. April and May are the best months to enjoy
the wildlife. Thirteen kilometers south east of Bandirma in Karacabey,
horse farms breed magnificent specimens of this beloved animal. Once known
as ancient Erteka, Erdek is just 14 km northwest of Bandirma. One of the
Sea of Marmara's oldest and most famous resort areas, it offers pristine
beaches and every type of accommodation. Marmara Island, formerly known
as Prokonessos, rose to Prominence in the Roman period and retained its
importance in the Byzantine and Ottoman periods because of its marble quarries,
which supplied the luxurious stone for the extravagant imperial building
programs. Near Saraylar Village, Marble Beach derives its name from the
natural marble that lies just off the waters edge. In town an open-air
museum displays artifacts which date back to Roman and Byzantine times,
and the marble quarry, where tourists can see every step of the quarrying
process.
