Bursa in Turkey should make an appearance on your list of places to visit because of its hospitality, its natural wonders and its treasures of pre-Roman, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman history. The elegance of this city has been the inspiration for many films and poems. You certainly won't be disappointed. Bursa, south of Istanbul across the Sea of Marmara, has beautiful mosques and other early Ottoman architecture, silk-filled bazaars, and thermal spa baths and hotels. Some people come only to sample its Iskender Kebap –slices of grilled lamb with savory tomato sauce and browned butter! You can visit Bursa on a day-trip from Istanbul if you plan carefully, but it's more relaxed if you stay overnight. That way you can also see the medieval town of Iznik (Nicaea) on the way to Bursa. You'll even have time for a quick cable car ride to the top of Uludag – almost 2,543 meters or 8,343 feet high. This is the mountain behind the city. It's an ideal site for mature climbers and trekkers. Uludag was declared a national park in 1961. It is on 12,762 hectares and is very popular because of its skiing and lakes. Bursa was the first capital, in the late 1200s and early 1300s, of the Ottoman Empire. The two founding sultans, Orhan and Osman, are buried here, and this is where the empire's great architectural style was first developed. Some places you should also visit include Koza (Cocoon) Khan which was built by Sultan Bayezid II from 1490 to 1492. This historical khan is situated between the Ulu and Orhan mosques. You can buy silk cloths and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the garden. Inkaya Plane Tree (Old Tree) is also recommend. Here you can have breakfast in the shadow of the 600-year-old Inkaya Plane Tree, which is three kilometers away from Uludag. Another great sight is Ulu Cami, the Great Mosque, which was built by Sultan Yildirim Bayezidc in 1400. Ulu Mosque is an important historical and religious site situated at the city center. The city clings to the slopes of Uludag, the Bithynian Mount Olympus, and got its nickname Green Bursa from the surrounding forests. Now a large, bustling city, much of the greenery has disappeared beneath the urban sprawl. Bursa's traditional industries of silk weaving and fruit processing have long since been supplemented by motor vehicle manufacturing and is known as “Turkey's Detroit”. On Bursa's western outskirts is Cekirge, a thermal spa resort since Roman times, with many spa hotels and bathing establishments. Two fast catamaran ferry (hizli freeboot) routes take you from Istanbul (Yenikapi Seaport) to Güzelyali or Yalova on the southern shore of the Sea of Marmara. From Güzelyali, you can get to Bursa by bus, minibus and Bursa Ray (Metro). From Yalova, take a bus to Bursa, or a minibus to Iznik. After touring Iznik, you can catch a minibus onwards to Bursa. Some popular festivals include the International Bursa Festival from June 12 to July 12; the International Bursa Golden Karagoz Folk Dance Contest from July 7 to 12; and International Silk Road Film Festival, which was first organized Dec. 13 to 17 in 2006.
