Bursa, the 4th biggest city of Turkey, is located on the north-west skirts of the Mount Uludağ and the south-east of The Marmara Sea. Bursa is settled on the north-west slopes of the Mount Uludağ in the South of Marmara Region. It is bordered by The Marmara Sea and Yalova on the north, Kocaeli and Sakarya on the north-east, Bilecik on the east and Kütahya and Balıkesir on the south. Our city was founded and developed on the slopes of the Mount Uludağ. Since it is a convenient place for defence, the first settlement was on the rocks of the slopes. After the city was captured from the Byzantine Empire, many structures were built especially when it was the capital city of the Ottoman Empire.

After 1940s, it has expanded towards the plain. Being on the first degree earthquake zone, it was widely affected by the earthquakes which took place in 1855 and 1905. After becoming the capital of the Ottoman Empire, it had developed rapidly and the roads coming from the Middle East countries via Anatolia were headed towards it. As a result, the city had become one of the main centres of trade, industry and culture in the 15th century. Some sources indicate that its population was over 100.000 even then. Being 2543 m. The Mount Uludag is the highest point of the city. There are two big lakes within the borders of the city. One of them is Lake İznik, the biggest lake of the Marmara Region, and the other is Lake Ulubat. The major river of the city is Nilüfer Brook, which is a branch of Susurluk River. Nilüfer Brook, which joints many small streams all of which spring from Mount Uludağ, waters the Bursa Plain. There are many large and fertile plains within the borders of Bursa. The major one of them is the Bursa Plain. Also, Yenişehir, İnegöl, Karacabey, Orhangazi and İznik Plains with their fertile soils are the places where the vegetal production is intensive.

Besides it natural riches, green texture, healing waters, and summer and winter tourism opportunities, Bursa, which carries the residential and architectural characteristics of the Ottoman and Republic periods into the present, has a unique cultural and historical inheritance.

Having 27 archaeological, 1 natural, 3 urban cite areas, 2042 memoir, religious and civil structure requiring protection, Bursa has been known as "GREEN BURSA" with its green texture, spring waters and healing thermal springs and it has been frequented by many travellers and historians charmed by its spiritual structure that keeps the Islamic culture alive in our day as well as in the past. Uludağ (Mount Olympos), on whose slopes the city was founded, is one of the places where the first Christian priests retired into seclusion. At the same time it is the biggest winter and natural sports centre of Turkey.

Also, İznik, one of the towns of Bursa, is considered as one of the most important centres for Christians after Vatican and Jerusalem.

PLACES OF INTEREST: Natural Park of Uludağ; Çekirge, Armutlu, Oylat, Gemlik Thermal Springs; Armutlu, Kumla, Kurşunlu Beaches; city walls of Prusa; Nikaia (İznik), Miletopolis (Karacabey), Mirlea (Mudanya), Kirmastı (Mustafa Kemal Paşa), Atranos (Orhaneli), Neopolis (Yenişehir) ancient cities; Ayasofya, Koimesis, Hagios Churches, Necropol, Palace and Hipogeum of Nikaia; Orhan Mosque and Complex; Bursa and Karacabey Ulumosques; Yıldırım Bedesten; Yıldırım, Yeşil, Hüdavendigar, Muradiye, Koca Sinan Paşa Complexes; Bursa Archeological, Bursa Atatürk, Bursa Turkish Islamic Art, Mudanya Armistice Museums.