A Seat at the Council of Nicea: Iznik & Bursa

Información

First council of Nicea (Iznik) was held here under the reign of Constantine that defined the clearer concept of Holy Trinity in 325 AD. The doctrine of the Trinity was then finalized at the Council of Constantinople in 381 AD, which expressly included the Holy Ghost as equal to the Father and the Son. It was also at Iznik that the Second Council of Nicaea met in 787 to discuss the issues of iconography.

The city was conquered and incorporated into the Ottoman Empire in the 14th century. The town later became a major center for the creation of a local faience pottery (known as the Iznik Çini, Çin meaning China – Chinese porcelain stood in great favor with the Sultans.) Iznik tiles were used to decorate many of the mosques in Istanbul designed by Sinan. Iznik, apart from its biblical legacy, holds a beautiful heritage of Ottoman civil and administrative architecture.

Your tour starts with an early departure from the hotel. The ferry trip to the nearby town of Yalova will be followed by a 45 minute drive to Iznik (Nicea), passing by beautiful countryside. In Iznik, you will see the ruins of the Haghia Sophia of Nicea and the City Walls as well as the Green Mosque. After the visit to Iznik, your tour will continue with a visit to Bursa.

Settled on the northwestern slopes of Mount Uludag in the southern Marmara Region, Bursa is frequently cited as "Green Bursa", in reference to the parks and gardens located across its urban tissue, as well as to the vast forests in rich variety that extend in its surroundings. The first major capital city in the early years of the Ottoman Empire; Bursa kept its importance as a commercial centre, especially as the source of most royal silk products during the Ottoman period.

Thus, Bursa has traditionally been a pole of attraction and was a major centre for refugees from various ethnic backgrounds; and it holds an immaculate heritage of Ottoman civil architecture. Places to visit are The Green Mosque, The Green Tomb, The Grand Mosque, The Covered Bazaar and The Old Silk Market. You may also taste the world famous “Iskender Kebap”. The return to Istanbul follows the same route.



Meeting/pick-up point: Hotel pick-up.
Start/opening time: At 7am.
End/closing time: At 8pm.
Drop-off location: Hotel drop-off.
Languages: English.
Includes: Ferry trip.