Taking a very early departure, our first visit is to a private garden of a local artist located outside of Istanbul on the Asian side. We are now heading to Anatolia. Next stop is an important historical town, Iznik, where the Councils of Nicaea (1st and 7th Ecumenical Councils) took place. Iznik is a lovely town located by Iznik Lake and famous with its tiles, ceramics and monumental trees. After visiting Hagia Sophia, Green Mosque and Iznik Museum we will drive along Iznik Lake and through Iznik Plain covered with fruit orchards, walnuts and olive trees. We will then head to the first capital city of the Ottoman Empire, Bursa.
We will arrive in a very well preserved Ottoman Village, Cumalikizik. We will walk amongst the picturesque old houses, reflecting the medieval Ottoman architecture. The village is also home to fruit gardens famous for raspberry and other type of berries.
(B/L/D)
