The heart of historic Bursa, which is also the commercial and cultural center of the modern city, stretches from Heykel, the plaza marked by the equestrian statue of Atatürk, then westward along Atatürk Caddesi past the shady Koza Park by the Koza Han(Silk Cocoon Caravanserai) and Kapalı Çarşı(Covered Bazaar), to the Ulu Cami (Great Mosque).
The city center is the place for shopping and dining. It also has the Post Office (PTT) and several of the most convenient hotels.
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| Ulu Cami (Great Mosque) |
Bursa is known for its fine silks, especially silk scarves, some of which are still made here. The place to look first is the Koza Han, then afterwards in the Koza Han(Silk Cocoon Caravanserai) and Kapalı Çarşı(Covered Bazaar).
Another specialty is Karagöz shadow puppets, an ancient entertainment art kept alive largely through the efforts of my friend, Mr Şinasi Çelikkol. More…
As for dining, the tender lambs that graze mountain herbs on the slopes of Uludağ wind up on restaurant tables as İskender kebap, one of Turkey’s national dishes. The restaurant that originated the dish, Kebapçı İskender, is at Atatürk Caddesi No. 42. Severely plain, it has only one item on the menu: İskender kebap. A fancier branch n the east side of Heykel is more comfortable, with a wider choice of dishes.
From the city center you can go west uphill (a 10-minute walk) to Hisar (Citadel), the oldest part of the city. Or you can take a bus, dolmush or taxi eastward to the Green Mosque (Yeşil Cami), the Emir Sultan Mosque, or even farther east to the base station for the teleferik (cable car) that ascends Uludağ (Mt Olympos).
—by Tom Brosnahan
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