TURKEY - IZNIK - NICEA

Iznik, formerly known as Nicea, lies at the eastern tip of Lake Iznik, south of Izmit. Originally an important Roman and Byzantine town, it fell to the Seljuks in 1078 and subsequently to the ottomans in 1331. In the town center are the ruins of the St. Sophia Cathedral. As a result of controversies which arose because of doctrinal differences in the Christianity in 320 A.D. the Byzantine Emperor Constantine convened the first Ecumenical Council in Iznik in 325. At the Council, attended by 300 bishops, a solution was sought to resolve the controversy over the divinity of Christ. Later Empress Irene convened the 7th Council in Iznik in 787 A.D.

The 1st and 7th Ecumenical Councils were held in Iznik. To evaluate the potential of the city, the Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministries decided to include Iznik in their projects. The aims of "Faith Tourism" are to vary tourism, to impart the image of a "secular Turkey" to the world, and to stress the "tolerance" in Islam towards other religions.

At the end of the 19th Council held in the Vatican in 1962, Iznik was declared a "holy city" for Christians.

Iznik was the center of exquisite ceramic ware production which has made such an important decorative contribution to mosques and palaces throughout Turkey. The town of Iznik (Nicaea) lies on the eastern shores of the lake of the same name. The town is in the city limits of the 'green' Bursa and it is 79 km far from the city center. Its population is 34000.

Iznik, which is a very old town, was first established in 310 B.C. It was ruled by Roman, Byzantine, and Seljuk Empires and remained under the sovereignty of Ottoman Empire for a long time. It has become a classical town which bears traces of all these cultures. Throughout the history, Iznik, which was famous with its pottery, remained as an important center of trade on the road to the east from Istanbul.

During Ottoman sovereignty, the pottery art of Iznik influenced the European arts and all Ottoman handcrafts became famous and demanded. For example; Sir Harry Garner in discussing Iznik tiles and ceramics of the 16th century, remarks that " The Turkish pottery from Iznik can claim to be the most decorative and colorful pottery ever made."

Tiles and potteries from Iznik occupies an important place within selected arts of both Turkish and World Museums. Iznik is remarkable for the monuments belonging to the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman Age. Most of the historical buildings are well preserved. Thus the region looks like an open-air museum. That's why AZNIK is proclaimed as an historical urban place to be protected

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