City: Bursa Province
Top Things to do in Bursa Province
Top 10 Sacred & Religious Sites in Bursa Province, Turkey
Bursa Province (Turkish: Bursa ili) is a province in Turkey, along the Sea of Marmara coast in northwestern Anatolia. Its adjacent provinces are Balıkesir to the west, Kütahya to the south, Bilecik and Sakarya to the east, Kocaeli to the northeast and Yalova to the north. The province has an area of 11,043 km and a population of 2,842,547 (2015). Its population was 2,125,140 according to the 2000 census. In 1990 it had a population of 1,603,137. The traffic code is 16.
Restaurants in Bursa Province
1. The Great Mosque
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,625 reviews
Built in the 14th century, this mosque is an excellent example of classical Ottoman architecture. Of special interest are the intricately carved wooden pulpit, and the three-tiered fountain.
Reviewed By carolas936 - Marietta, United States
The Great Mosque (a.k.a. Ulu Cami) is on the main street (where the Atatürk Cd. becomes Cemal Nadir Cd.) and is the largest mosque in Bursa, showcasing Seljuk-style architecture. Many consider it the fifth most important mosque in Islam (after those in Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem, and Damascus), and is included in Bursa’s 2014 UNESCO World Heritage Site description. The mosque was commissioned by Sultan Bayezid I, and designed and built by architect Ali Neccar in 1396–1399. The large square building has twenty domes arranged in four rows of five, supported by twelve columns. According to legend, twenty domes were built instead of the twenty separate mosques which the Sultan had promised after winning the Battle of Nicopolis over an allied crusader army in 1396. The mosque's two cylindrical minarets are prominent landmarks if you wander around central Bursa. The interior of the mosque is spacious, filled with light, and has graceful calligraphy and floral motifs adorning the walls and columns. At the center is a şadırvan (fountain) where worshipers can perform ritual ablutions before prayer. The dome over the şadırvan is capped by a skylight which highlights the fountain's softly cascading water. The mihrab (prayer niche oriented towards Mecca) is particularly fine, bordered by intricate decorative tiles and bands of graceful calligraphy. Throughout the interior are graceful inscriptions on the walls and columns written by famous Ottoman calligraphers of the period, one of the finest examples of Islamic calligraphy in the world. The interior is shielded from street noise and invites contemplation, encouraged by a reader softly reciting passages from the Koran. The mosque is open during normal hours with no entrance fee (although a donation is gratefully appreciated). Modest attire and removing one's shoes shows respect for this active place of worship.
2. I. Murat Hudavendigar Mosque
3. Somuncu Baba FIrInI ve Cilehanesi
4. Muradiye Mosque
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 16 reviews
Reviewed By carolas936 - Marietta, United States
Muradiye mosque is part of a complex composed of the mosque, a madrassa (former school, now a museum), hospice, hamamı (bath), 12 royal tombs and a historic graveyard. The mosque was completed in 1426, and was commissioned by Sultan Murad II who died in 1451. He was the sixth Ottoman sultan, and the last to rule the empire from Bursa. (His son, Mehmet II (the Conqueror) switched the capital to Istanbul after the conquest of Byzantium). The mosque, with alternating layers of stone and brick, is built in an inverse T plan with two large domes (one in the entrance portico) and two smaller side domes. Flanking the mosque are two slender brick minarets, one original and one rebuilt after the 1855 earthquake. The entry portico is large, the dome supported by an arcade decorated with geometric tiles. Inside the mosque, the lower walls are decorated in hexagonal dark blue and turquoise tiles. The windows and lower dome are embellished with delicate bands in a floral motif. The mihrab (a niche pointing to Mecca) was rebuilt in rococo style in the 18th century after a fire. The 1855 earthquake damaged much of the Muradiye complex; restorations were completed in the late nineteenth century, as well as a recent restoration in 2015. The former madrassa to the west of the mosque now houses a museum and medical center. The former hamamı (serving the medrassa students), is now a government building. Twelve mausoleums are scattered about in a garden on the south side of the mosque. The largest is that of Sultan Murad II. The square building is constructed of brick and stone, topped with a dome. An elegantly-decorated awning surmounts the arched marble entry. Inside, a vaulted gallery supports the dome, resting on Byzantine columns. Murad II's tomb is surprisingly simple, a pentagonal open sarcophagus resting on a raised platform, reflecting his life as an ascetic and part-time dervish. The other eleven mausoleums scattered in the mosque garden contain family members. The tombs vary in size; some are exquisitely decorated with tiles, painted calligraphy and inlaid woodcarving. The most ornate are the 14th-century tomb of Cem Sultan (the third son of Mehmet the Conqueror) and the 16th-century tombs of Şehzades Mahmud and Ahmed, the sons of Beyazıt II. An interpretive map tells who is who, and some of the signs have English interpretations. Also in the garden is an ablution fountain, sheltered by a graceful kiosk. Muradiye mosque complex was included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List in 2013. It is open daily with no entry fee, although a donation is appreciated. The mosque is active, so may be closed during prayers. As a sign of respect, when visiting, modest clothing should be worn and shoes removed before entering.
5. Isabey CAMii
6. Yesil Camii
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 26 reviews
Reviewed By Carolepj - Amsterdam, The Netherlands
This is a small mosque so easy to walk round and take in the Islamic decoration. A wonderful ceiling. It was quiet when I visited which I like because the atmosphere was serene and tranquil which is what you expect to find in a place of religious worship. It is more interesting if you delve a little into the history and sits across the road from the "Green Tomb" so both can be visited at once.
