Culture of Bursa. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

There are a lot of unique religious monuments among outstanding attractions of Bursa. The most interesting of them is Yeşil Cami, or the Green Mosque. It is a classic example of national architecture and has quite a symbolic name. The matter is that the major gem of the mosque is aqua tiles which you can admire forever. The founder of the mosque is Sultan Mehmed I. It started to be built at the turn of the 14th – 15th centuries. To finish the mosque, rare white marbles were used. Some elements, for example, the carved front door, were made of wood.

The mosque is located in the vicinity of the shrine of its founder, the Green Tomb. This construction is of great interest in terms of architecture. This unusual octagonal building has a big dome on its top and builds up a large and very harmonious architectural complex with the Green Mosque.

One of the most important monuments of the Ottoman Empire’s times is the Orhan Camii that was also built in the 15th century. This mosque is quite a large and interesting complex including various constructions. So, on the territory of the mosque, there is an old bathhouse, an inn and a small kitchen where meals were prepared for the poor hundreds of years ago. There are also several tombs. The old mosque is often called a complex of Sultan Orhan, as its size is really impressive. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Another enchanting religious attraction is the Emir Sultan Mosque. It was seriously affected by the earthquake about a hundred years ago but experienced architects quickly restored it. The Mosque of Murad II is a unique architectural complex in all respects. It is an only religious monument in the city, the rooms of which were fully finished with faience.

There are several interesting culture centers that all tour enthusiasts should visit. Near the Green Mosque, there is the Bursa Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts, which collection includes invaluable masterpieces of local artists and craftsmen.

The most visited cultural center in Bursa is the Archaeological Museum, which collection started to be formed in 1904. The collection of archaeological artifacts was initially kept in the building of the old man’s lyceum but then was moved to the Madrasah Yeshil . The modern museum is situated on the territory of the magnificent park that was officially opened in 1972. The collection of exhibits consists of thousands of unique artifacts and the age of some is more than 5 000 years.

The Ataturk Museum is no less interesting and remarkable cultural center. The museum is located on the territory of the picturesque district of Çekirge and occupies a luxurious mansion with a snow-white facade built in the 19th century. This magnificent mansion was presented to Ataturk by representatives of the city authority. The great leader stayed exactly at this building during a visit to the city. After the Ataturk’s death, the mansion was transferred into the ownership of the city property. It was decided to use it as a museum that was opened in 1973. The picturesque attractions of the city are fabulous squares and gardens that can be seen in different parts of Bursa. They are a perfect place for relaxing after multiple sightseeing tours.