Bursa formerly known as Brusa or in Greek, Prusa is the capital of the Bursa Province in northwestern Turkey. It is Turkey's fourth largest city.

The city is famous for its ski resorts, on the mountain of Uludag, the mausoleums of Ottoman sultans, and the surrounding fertile plain. It is also the home of some important Turkish foods, especially chestnut desserts and a meat dish called Iskender kebap.

Bursa is the center of the Turkish automobile industry, where FIAT and Renault have located their factories.

The earliest known site at this location was Cius, which Philip V of Macedonia granted to the Bithynian king Prusias I in 202 BC, for his help against Pergamum and Heraclea Pontica modern Karadeniz Ereg(li). Prusias renamed the city for himself, Prusa.

It was later a major city, located on the westernmost end of the famous Silk Road, and was the capital of the Ottoman Empire following its capture from the Byzantines in 1326 until the capture of Edirne in 1365 and remained an important administrative and commercial center even after it lost its status as the capital. The Algerian resistance fighter Emir Abd el-Kader resided here for a while (1852 to 1855), as well as Ayatollah Khomeini in his first year of exile (1963) before leaving for Nejef in Iraq and later for Paris, and Ismail Hakki Bursevi a famous Islamic scholar and Sufi is buried here.

07.00 - 10.00 Transfer to Bursa
Bursa, the capital of ancient Bithynia, sprawls across the verdant slopes af Mysian Olympus (Mt. Uludag). Surrounded by gardens and orchards, it acquired the title of Green Bursa, was the first capital of Ottoman Empire.
Transfer to Bursa on the E80 the shortest way to cross the Izmit bay is using ferries from Yalova to Eskihisar - was part of a defensive system protecting the eastern approaches to Constantinople. From the earliest times, the waters of Yalova have offered relief from a number of ailments, including rheumatism and skin diseases.

10.00 - 12.00 Bursa sightseeing
Green Mosque, is one of the finest examples of Ottoman architecture. The mosque got its name from the wonderful green tiles which at one time covered the dome and the tops of the minarets. Evliya Celebi compared them to emeralds sparkling in the sunlight.
Green Turbe, the tomb of Memet I who died in 1421. Its perfect proportions, its position between cypress trees at the top of a short flight of steps and its decoration outside and inside make it one of the most beautiful buildings in Turkey.

Ulu Camii (The Great Mosque); Constructed of a golden-hued limestone from Mt Olympus, it measures 56m by 68m and was the first congregational mosque erected by the Ottomans.

12.00 - 14.00 Lunch break for Bursa's famous Iskender Kebap and transfer to Iznik

14.00 - 16.30 Iznik sightseeing
Nicaea (Iznik); has remained in the leading role in the pages of history for thousands of years. It is a unique city which hosted the capitals of four empires. Every piece of land is intermingled with the residue of centuries old cultures.
The city walls surrounding Iznik measure 4970 meters long, and were built in the shape of a pentagon. Four gates can be seen when observed from the junction of the two main roads of the city.

Hagia Sophia of Nicaea, the most important Byzantine building in Iznik is the church, with three apses, has a sacred significance for Christian pilgrims as it was the site of the Seventh Ecumenical Council in 787ad.

16.30 - 19.00 Transfer to Istanbul.

Tour Includes
o 1 lunch
o Entrance fees
o English-speaking tour guide
o Transportation in a fully air-conditioned, non-smoking coach

Tour does not include
o Flight tickets