Iznik
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İznik [1] (pop.~22,000) is a historical town in Eastern Marmara, located on the eastern shore of Lake İznik (ancient Ascanius); east of Bursa.
[edit] Understand
İznik, or Nicaea (Latin)/Nikaia (Greek) as known in ancient times, was the site of the both first and seventh ecumenical councils of Christianity (i.e. First and Second Councils of Nicaea), convened in 325 CE and 787 CE respectively. Later it served as the capital city of Sultanate of Rum, first Turkic state established in Asia Minor. After the Crusaders of Fourth Crusade captured Constantinople and established Latin Empire in 1204, it also served as the capital of Empire of Nicaea, a rump Byzantine state, for more than 60 years. Despite still maintaining some traces of its past, the town today has a somewhat provincial feel to it, and is far from the importance it possessed in history.
İznik today is still mostly surrounded by ancient walls with four major gates roughly corresponding to the cardinal directions. They are named after the major town the road exiting through the gate in question leads to. In clockwise order, they are (starting from north): Istanbul Gate (İstanbul Kapı), Lefke Gate (Lefke Kapı), Yenişehir Gate (Yenişehir Kapı), and Lake Gate (Göl Kapı), providing access to the lake shore, not a town. All are roughly the same distance away from town square, which is the intersection of the two major streets of the town: Atatürk Caddesi (north-south, between Istanbul and Yenişehir Gates) and Kılıçaslan Caddesi (east-west, between Lefke and Lake Gates).
İznik is also famous for its tiles (çini), though much less so than in the past.
- Tourism Information Office (Turizm Danışma), Atatürk Caddesi (very near the town square; next to Hagia Sophia), ☎ +90 224 757 19 33 (fax: +90 224 757 19 33). This official information office provides free brochures (which include a map) of the town. edit
[edit] Get in
[edit] By minibus
There are minibuses to İznik, running on the road following southern shore of Lake İznik.
[edit] By car
- From Istanbul - you can either take D100 or O-4/E80 (motorway/toll-road) east to Izmit, then head west there along the southern shore of the Gulf of İzmit to Yalova, or take a ferry -which can accommodate cars- to Yalova. Once in Yalova, take D575/E881 highway south to Bursa. After about 30-40 km away from Yalova, you'll arrive in Orhangazi. At Orhangazi, you'll notice the junction of the secondary road lying on the northern shore of Lake İznik (there are İznik/Nicaea signs). From that junction, İznik is about a 30-40 min drive away.
- If you choose not to take a ferry to Yalova, you also have the option of taking the mountainous road which forks from the main highway about 5 km west of Karamürsel. This road is shorter than the above route, but curvier.
- From Bursa - Take D575/E881 highway north to Yalova. Somewhere between Gemlik and Orhangazi, you'll come across a junction with traffic lights. On that junction, you'll notice İznik/Nicaea signs. That road will take you to İznik along the southern shore of the lake in about 30-40 minutes.
[edit] By boat
While there are no boats plying on Lake İznik, when arriving from Istanbul in the north, you may take fast ferries [2] to Yalova to shorten total journey duration.
[edit] By train
The nearest train station is located in Osmaneli, about 30-40 km to the east.
[edit] Get around
İznik is not very big, and lies on a flat ground, so walking around is a viable option. Each of the gates –the most distant sections of the town- are about 15-20 minutes at most on foot from town square – the focal point of the town.
There are also taxi stands around the town for those who prefer not to walk. There is one on Kılıçaslan Caddesi St, not far from town square, about diagonally behind Hagia Sophia.
[edit][add listing] See
- Hagia Sophia (Aya Sofya), (at the town square, intersection of two major streets of the town). While much smaller in size compared with its namesake in Istanbul, this rectangular, red brick building built in typical Byzantine style, holds as much historical importance, if not more, as it’s the site of the seventh ecumenical council of Christianity (i.e. Second Council of Nicaea, in 787 CE). Located in a pleasant small park, entry into the building itself, it seems, is not allowed at the moment. edit
- Green Mosque (Yeşil Cami), (in a little square/park on the left side when walking towards Lefke Gate on Kılıçaslan Caddesi, next to the Museum), [3]. Built in early 14th century, this mosque with its impressive minaret (tower) covered with green-turquoise-blue mosaics (that’s where the name of the mosque comes from) looks more like earlier Seljuk edifices rather than Ottoman mosques. edit
- Museum (Müze), (in a little square/park on the left side when walking towards Lefke Gate on Kılıçaslan Caddesi, next to the Green Mosque), ☎ +90 224 757 10 27. Tu-Su 9AM-noon/1PM-5PM. Housed inside Nilüfer Hatun imaret (a social security instution of the past which provided free food for the poor), built in 14th century. There are also some marble sarcographi, columns, and columnheads dating back to Roman and Byzantine times in its yard. 3 TL. edit
- Esrefzade Mosque (Eşrefzade Camii), Kılıçaslan Caddesi (in a side alley on the left side of the street when walking towards Lefke Gate from town square; not far from Green Mosque, only a couple streets in between), [4]. A recently built (2007) neighbourhood mosque with an ancient minaret (tower; when it was constructed is not exactly known, but likely 16th century) decorated with green tiles, in a similar fashion with the one of the Green Mosque, except that the tiles of this one are far less showy than those of the Green Mosque. So, if you have just started your trip around the town and come across with this one first, don’t be disappointed and confuse it with Green Mosque. edit
- City Walls. The town is still mostly enclosed by ancient walls, if partially a bit weary. You can also come across with some slowly crumbling towers here and there. Istanbul Gate (northern gate) and Lefke Gate (the eastern one) are more or less still completely intact and are quite beautiful. Just outside the Lefke Gate is an ancient aquaduct running for some hundreds of metres and eventually disappearing in the fields out of town. edit
- Candarlioglu Mosque (Çandarlıoğlu Camii), (on the left side of the street when going to the Lake Gate/waterfront from the town square), [5]. Another recently built (1996) small mosque. An ordinary building with nothing fascinating except that it’s mostly coated with blue/green tiles all over its exterior walls, making a quite pleasant sight. It’s directly on the street and a bit hidden from view by the surrounding multi-story buildings on both sides, so for not passing-by without noticing it, watch the left side of the street while walking. edit
[edit][add listing] Do
- Take a stroll in the park along the lakefront.
[edit][add listing] Buy
[edit] Tiles
İznik has been well known for its local faience/tile (çini) tradition since 15th century.
Nowadays, designs range from classical/traditional to somewhat kitsch to avant-garde. You can see lots of tile workshops, which also double as showrooms for tiles painted on square porcelains on sale, in alleys on both sides of Kılıçaslan Caddesi St, especially near the Green Mosque/the Museum.
[edit] Banks
Most banks are located on either Atatürk Caddesi or Kılıçaslan Caddesi, usually very near the town square. All are equipped with ATMs on their exterior walls.
[edit] Supermarkets
- BIM, Mevlana Sokak (on the 4th or 5th side alley to the left from the town square when walking on Kılıçaslan Caddesi towards Lefke Gate). 10AM-9PM. National supermarket chain BİM has a store in İznik, where you can find bottled water, soft drinks, and snacks on a discounted rate. Credit cards are accepted. edit
- Another national supermarket chain, Dia, has a store too, in town square, but it was closed as of early April, 2009.
[edit][add listing] Eat
- Köfteci Yusuf - Iznik Imren, Atatürk Caddesi (not far from town square; on the right side when walking towards Yenişehir Gate from the square), ☎ +90 224 757 35 97. A very clean restaurant serving reasonably priced cheesy meat-balls (köfte), similar to Akçaabat Köftesi of Trabzon. A portion consists of 6 meat-balls and comes with an endless basket of toasted bread and barbecued green peppers. Vegetarians may try piyaz (bean salad), though vegans should be aware that it contains boiled eggs. The restaurant has a lovely open-air roof on the second floor. Efficient service. 4 TL a porsion of meat-ball, 2 TL bean salad, soft drinks from 1 TL. A glass of Turkish tea upon finishing the meal is for free. Credit cards are accepted.. edit
[edit][add listing] Drink
[edit][add listing] Sleep
[edit] Contact
The telephone code of the town is (+90) 224.
[edit] Get out
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