Turkey Marmara Bursa

Now a bustling industrial metropolis, the Ottoman empire's first major capital is full of history, markets, parks and attractions.

Wander the historic streets of Bursa, haggle at old bazaars, dig in to Turkish treats and discover treasures of the Ottoman era.

A peaceful complex containing tree-lined gardens, historical graves and the mosque of Sultan Murat II who ruled for 30 years.

Completed in 1399, this huge mosque is an impressive and lasting monument to the beginnings of the Ottoman empire.

Built for the Ottoman Empire's fifth sultan, this hexagonal mausoleum stands among leafy cypress trees.

A grand 14C bazaar which harks back to the days when Bursa was one of the last stops on the ancient Silk Road.

The large botanical garden offers a peaceful place to wander among flora from around Turkey and the world.

A significant early-Ottoman mosque, built by Orhan, one of of the founders of the Ottoman Empire.

Erected in honor of the sultan's son-in-law, this 14C mosque has since been rebuilt in a baroque Ottoman style.

A 15C marketplace constructed during the days of the Silk Road where merchants still come to peddle fine cloth.

Ancient gates and sections of the fortified walls which once defended the city can be found in the older parts of town.

Both adults and children will love to venture out of the city center to check out the animals at this exciting zoo.

Once home to a school for Islamic religious studies, the museum is now dedicated to Muslim artwork and crafts from the 14C-16C.

Pay a visit to the tombs of the two founders of the Ottoman Empire, located in a small park.

A historical domed mosque constructed in the late 14C by Ottoman sultan, Bayezid I.

Relics at the city's archaeology museum range from simple Stone Age tools to fine Roman ceramics.

The city museum gives a taste of the region's rich history and cultural traditions.