Our tour of Turkey was coming to an end, and our final stop was Bursa, a city with a fascinating place in the country’s history. Before Istanbul became the magnificent Ottoman capital we know today, Bursa held that title. Captured by the Ottomans in 1326, Bursa became the first capital of the Ottoman Empire and an important center of administration, religion, culture and trade.

Bursa felt like an appropriate place to finish. It offered another chapter of Ottoman history, but it also gave us the chance to experience the city’s mosques, royal tombs, historic markets and famous silk shopping.

Ulu Cami: Bursa’s Magnificent Grand Mosque

One of the highlights of Bursa is the magnificent Ulu Cami, or Grand Mosque, located in the center of the historic city.

Built during the reign of Sultan Bayezid I and completed around 1400, Ulu Cami is one of the most important examples of early Ottoman architecture. Its twenty domes give the building an impressive presence, but stepping inside reveals an interior that is even more captivating.

The vast prayer hall is filled with arches, pillars and beautiful Islamic calligraphy. Rather than being overwhelmed by decoration, the building has a sense of balance and serenity. One of its most unusual features is the fountain beneath the central dome, bringing water into the heart of the mosque.

The calligraphy throughout the mosque deserves time and attention. Large inscriptions decorate the walls and pillars, creating an extraordinary collection of Islamic art.

Standing inside Ulu Cami, it is difficult not to think about how many generations have passed through this space. This was not simply a historic building created for tourists to admire. It was, and remains, a place of worship and an important part of Bursa’s spiritual identity.

And just outside the mosque, another side of Bursa begins to unfold.

Bursa’s Historic Bazaar and Koza Han

Leaving Ulu Cami takes you almost immediately into Bursa’s historic commercial district. This is where the city’s past as a major trading center becomes especially visible.

For centuries, Bursa was an important stop along trade routes between Asia and Europe. The city became particularly famous for silk, and its historic Hans and bazaars developed around merchants, craftsmen and traders.

One of the most beautiful examples is Koza Han.

Built in the late fifteenth century during the reign of Sultan Bayezid II, Koza Han became an important centre for the silk trade. Its name is associated with silk cocoons, reflecting Bursa’s long connection with silk production and commerce.

Walking through the entrance into the courtyard is a wonderful experience. The historic building surrounds a peaceful open space where visitors can sit, enjoy Turkish tea and watch shoppers moving between the stores.

The shops are filled with silk scarves, fabrics, clothing, textiles and souvenirs. Even if you arrive intending only to look, it can be surprisingly difficult to leave without buying something.

There is something special about shopping in a place that has been connected to trade for centuries. The products may have changed, but the basic rhythm remains the same: merchants displaying their goods, visitors browsing, conversations taking place and people enjoying the atmosphere.

The Green Tomb

But Bursa’s Ottoman story goes much deeper than shopping and architecture.

One of the most beautiful and significant monuments in the city is the Green Tomb, or Yeşil Türbe. Located near the Green Mosque, this magnificent mausoleum is the final resting place of Sultan Mehmed I, also known as Çelebi Mehmed.

Mehmed I played a crucial role in rebuilding the Ottoman state following a period of internal conflict. His tomb was commissioned after his death in 1421 and became one of Bursa’s most distinctive landmarks.

The Green Tomb gets its name from the striking green and turquoise tiles that decorate the exterior and interior. The building is elegant, relatively compact and richly decorated, making it very different in character from the enormous Ulu Cami.

Inside, the tiled decoration is particularly impressive. The colors and intricate patterns immediately draw the eye, while the atmosphere is quiet and contemplative.

It is also a place that reminds visitors that Bursa was not simply an Ottoman administrative center. It became a spiritual home for the early Ottoman dynasty.

Standing before the tomb, you are looking at the resting place of one of the rulers who helped shape the empire during its formative years.

The Tombs of the Ottoman Sultans

Bursa is sometimes described as the city where the Ottoman Empire began, and nowhere is that connection more powerful than in its royal tombs.

The Muradiye Complex, also known as the Muradiye Tombs, contains the mausoleums of several members of the Ottoman dynasty. The complex was established by Sultan Murad II, whose own tomb is located here.

Walking among the tombs offers a very different experience from visiting a grand mosque or busy bazaar. The atmosphere is peaceful, with gardens, trees and historic Ottoman architecture surrounding the mausoleums.

The tombs belong not only to sultans but also to princes, princesses and other members of the Ottoman royal family. Together, they provide a fascinating glimpse into the dynasty’s history.

There is something quite moving about seeing the final resting places of rulers whose names are so closely associated with the rise of the Ottoman Empire.

Bursa therefore feels almost like a bridge between the early Ottoman state and the great empire that would eventually rule from Istanbul.

The city allows you to see the beginnings of that story before visiting the later imperial grandeur associated with Istanbul.

A City of Mosques, Markets and Memories

What makes Bursa so interesting is the way these different pieces of history fit together. You can begin the day standing beneath the twenty domes of Ulu Cami, walk through the bustling bazaar, drink tea in the courtyard of Koza Han, admire the beautiful tiles of the Green Tomb and then visit the quiet mausoleums of Ottoman rulers.

Each place tells a different part of Bursa’s story. The mosques tell us about faith and architecture. The tombs tell us about the Ottoman dynasty. The bazaars tell us about trade and craftsmanship.

The silk shops tell us about Bursa’s economic importance.

And the streets connecting them all tell us that this history continues to be part of the living city.

Our Final Taste of Bursa

As our Turkish tour came to an end, Bursa gave us a final opportunity to slow down and take in the layers of history we had encountered throughout the country.

It was fitting that our journey ended in a city that once stood at the center of the Ottoman world.

Istanbul may have become the empire’s great capital, but Bursa remains deeply connected to its beginnings. The early Ottoman sultans built their mosques here, established their religious complexes here and were laid to rest here.

And then there is the shopping. After all the history, there is something wonderfully enjoyable about wandering through the bazaars and Koza Han, looking at silk, textiles, jewelry and traditional Turkish goods. It brings the past and present together in a way that feels completely natural.

Perhaps that is what I will remember most about Bursa. It did not feel like a city where we were simply visiting historical monuments. It felt like we were walking through a living piece of Turkish history.

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I am visiting Troy in Turkey not because the ruins are spectacular. I am visiting Troy in Turkey because of the stories it carries.

Troy in Turkey carries stories

For thousands of years, the name Troy has been connected with stories of the Trojan War, love, betrayal, heroes, kings, and the legendary Trojan Horse. Homer’s Iliad made Troy one of the most famous places in the ancient world, with characters such as Helen, Paris, Achilles, and Hector becoming part of our collective imagination.

But what is it actually like to visit Troy today? The answer may surprise you.

No towering monuments like those at Ephesus remain. Troy consists of stone foundations, defensive walls, gateways, trenches, and fragments of ancient buildings.

At first, you might wonder if there is really much to see. But once you understand what lies beneath your feet, Troy becomes fascinating.

The archaeological site at Hisarlık contains nine principal settlement layers, known as Troy I through Troy IX, representing thousands of years of human history. UNESCO recognizes Troy as a site of outstanding archaeological importance, with a history stretching back approximately 4,000 years and an extraordinary connection to Homer’s Iliad.

So, is Troy worth visiting? Absolutely, especially if you enjoy history, archaeology, and mythology. Troy is less about spectacular ruins and more about standing in a place where thousands of years of history have literally been layered one on top of another.

Where Is Troy?

Ancient Troy is located near the village of Tevfikiye in Çanakkale Province in northwestern Türkiye, close to the Dardanelles. The archaeological site sits on a mound known as Hisarlık. Its location was strategically important because it was close to the Dardanelles, the narrow waterway connecting the Aegean Sea with the Sea of Marmara.

Over thousands of years, different communities settled here, built their homes and fortifications, and eventually rebuilt over earlier settlements.

Today, the surrounding landscape is peaceful and rural. It is surprisingly difficult to imagine that this quiet countryside was once associated with one of the most famous conflicts in ancient literature.

The Nine Layers of Troy

One of the most fascinating things about Troy is that it wasn’t simply one ancient city.

Archaeologists have identified nine principal settlement layers, Troy I through Troy IX. Each represents a different period in the site’s long history.

Troy I

Troy I dates to the early Bronze Age, around 3000 BCE. It was a relatively small settlement, but evidence of fortifications and organized buildings shows that the community was already established and strategically important. Think about that for a moment. People were living here thousands of years before the stories of the Trojan War were ever written.

Troy II

Troy II became larger and more prosperous, with impressive fortifications and monumental buildings. This layer is particularly famous because of Heinrich Schliemann, the nineteenth-century archaeologist who believed he had discovered Homer’s Troy. Schliemann uncovered a collection of gold objects that he called Priam’s Treasure, believing they belonged to the legendary King Priam. Modern archaeology has shown that the treasure actually belonged to a much earlier period than the likely historical setting of the Trojan War. Schliemann’s excavations also caused considerable damage to later archaeological layers, but his work nevertheless brought Troy to worldwide attention.

Troy III, IV and V

These settlements represent centuries of continued occupation and development during the Bronze Age. They are less famous than some of the other layers, but they tell an important story. Troy did not suddenly appear, experience one great war, and disappear. People lived here for generations. Homes were built, destroyed, repaired, and rebuilt. History at Troy is therefore about ordinary people as much as legendary heroes.

Troy VI

Troy VI is one of the most impressive Bronze Age layers. This settlement had massive defensive walls, towers, gateways, and substantial buildings. Standing beside these remains gives you a better sense of why Troy was such an important settlement. Troy VI is also frequently discussed in connection with the Troy described in later traditions. Its date places it within the Late Bronze Age, the period generally associated with the historical background of the Trojan War. But archaeology cannot prove that Achilles fought Hector or that Helen of Sparta was actually taken to Troy. That is where history and mythology begin to overlap.

Troy VII

Troy VII is often associated with the possible historical background of the Trojan War. Archaeologists have found evidence of destruction and signs of a settlement experiencing difficult circumstances. Could this have been Homer’s Troy? It is possible, but there is no archaeological evidence that can definitively prove the events described in the epic. That distinction is important. Troy is a place where legend and archaeology meet, but they are not the same thing.

Troy VIII

Centuries later, the Greeks returned to the site and established the settlement known as Ilion. The connection between the archaeological site and Homer’s legendary Troy became increasingly important. Troy was no longer simply an ancient settlement. It had become a place connected to heroic stories and the mythology of the past.

Troy IX

The final major layer is associated with the Roman period. The Romans had a special interest in Troy because of their own legendary connection to the Trojan hero Aeneas, who was said to have escaped Troy and eventually become an ancestor of the Roman people. Roman Troy included public buildings, religious structures, a theatre, and other civic features. Eventually, Troy declined, but its stories survived.

The Trojan Horse

Of course, no visit to Troy would be complete without talking about the Trojan Horse.

According to the famous story, the Greeks constructed a giant wooden horse and hid soldiers inside it. The Trojans brought the horse inside their city, believing it was a gift. During the night, the soldiers emerged and opened the city gates. It is one of the most enduring stories from the ancient world. But there is an important detail.

There is no archaeological evidence proving that the legendary wooden horse existed.

In fact, Homer’s Iliad does not tell the complete story of the Trojan Horse and the fall of Troy. Later writers expanded the story, and Virgil’s Aeneid helped make it an enduring part of Western literature.

Today, visitors can see a large modern wooden horse at the archaeological site.

It isn’t an ancient artefact, but it has become a symbol of Troy and, naturally, a favorite spot for photographs.

What Is There to See at Troy?

This is probably the question most travelers want answered. And the honest answer is: mostly ruins. If you are expecting another Ephesus, with enormous columns and beautifully preserved buildings, Troy may feel underwhelming at first. The site consists primarily of foundations, walls, defensive structures, gateways, trenches, and fragments from different periods. There is an entrance which is presumed the route through which the horse was brought into the city.

But that is also what makes it interesting. You aren’t simply looking at one ruined city. You are looking at layers of cities. A wall might belong to one period while the stones beneath it belong to another. A pathway may have been used by people separated by centuries.

The famous excavation trenches also provide a glimpse into how archaeologists uncovered the different layers of Troy.

Troy requires imagination. You have to look at the stones and think about the people who built them. You have to picture the walls standing much higher than they do today. And you have to remember that beneath some of the ruins are even older ruins. That is the real attraction.

Don’t Miss the Troy Museum

If you are visiting Troy, I highly recommend including the Troy Museum in your plans. The museum provides the context that the archaeological site sometimes lacks.

Inside, you can see archaeological objects from different periods of Troy’s history and learn more about the people who lived there.

Pottery, jewelry, tools, sculptures, and household objects help turn the ruins into something more tangible.

After visiting the museum, the archaeological site becomes easier to understand because you know what you are looking at and why it matters.

If you have time, I would visit both rather than treating the museum as an optional extra.

Planning Your Visit

Allow several hours if you want to experience both the archaeological site and museum without rushing. Comfortable walking shoes are a good idea, and during the warmer months you will want water, sunscreen, and protection from the sun. Troy is not the sort of attraction you should rush through simply to take a few photographs.

Take your time reading the signs and looking at the different layers. If you are travelling with children, introducing them to the Trojan Horse story before your visit can make the experience much more engaging. The large wooden horse is likely to be the immediate favorite.

Is Troy Worth Visiting?

For me, yes. But Troy is worth visiting for a different reason than many of Turkey’s other ancient sites. If you are looking for spectacular ruins, Ephesus may leave a stronger visual impression. Troy is different. It is about perspective.

You are standing on a hill where people lived for approximately 4,000 years. Civilizations rose, disappeared, and rebuilt. Greeks came. Romans came. Legends grew around the site. Archaeologists eventually arrived searching for the city described by Homer.

And all of those stories are still connected to the same piece of land. That is what makes Troy special.

Final Thoughts

Troy may not be the most visually impressive ancient city you visit in Turkey. But it may be one of the most thought-provoking. There are no grand buildings waiting to overwhelm you. Instead, there are walls, stones, trenches, and foundations quietly telling a story that stretches back thousands of years. Standing there, I found myself thinking less about what was still standing and more about everything that had disappeared. Somewhere beneath those layers were homes, streets, markets, temples, families, soldiers, and generations of people whose names we will never know. Then Homer came along and gave Troy another life. His stories transformed a place into a legend. Today, we visit Troy trying to understand where history ends and mythology begins. Perhaps that is why Troy remains so fascinating.

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