Bursa Things to Do

Actually Karagoz and Hacivat are not puppets, they are 2 characters of traditional Turkish Shadow Play, Karagoz.

In order to better know this traditional game you should visit Karagozevi at Cekirge, Bursa. It is the only place in Bursa where you can watch Karagoz performances(only in Turkish). You can also see the exhibitions of pupets from all over the world, Turkish folkloric costum exhibition and some others.

ABOUT KARAGOZ PLAY

--Karagöz is a shadow play whose true form is the moving of "designs" made from skin of a camel or cow with sticks on a white curtain by reflecting light behind them.
--The play takes its name from its main character “Karagöz
--The subjects of Karagöz plays are funny elements. Double meanings, exaggerations, verbal plays, imitating accents are the main elements of the comedy.
--Turkish Folk History maintains that Turkish Karagöz, was begun in Bursa

Every year in July, there is an international Folk Dance Competition called Golden Karagoz Festival in Bursa.

Folk Dance Groups from several countries compete for the Golden Karagoz Prize. They have performances in many different stages. It might be a good idea to go to the Final Day of the festival at Open Air Theatre in Culturepark. It is really fun.

You can get more information from BURSA CULTURE ART AND TOURISM FOUNDATION

I came across this small clock tower on my walk around the Old Town of Bursa.

I not sure that I can tell you much about it other than it fitted in well with the overall green and white theme that is everywhere in "Green Bursa"

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I never actually made it up to the The Tophane Clock Tower as I ran out of sightseeing time on my stroll around the Old Town of Bursa.

The Tophane clock tower is in the Tophane park, and dates from 1906.

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This part of Bursa, along and near Altiparmak Caddesi, is at the base of the Tophane hill and between the core/market area and Muradiye. Altiparmak Caddesi is a major thoroughfare with mostly modern hhg-rise buildings but is very lively. Off of that street are other streets, such as those going up the hill towards Tophane, that have cafes, etc., and older buildings. There are many shops and eateries in this area, and the like.

This is the city museum and alothough we didn't have time to actually go inside we noticed it because of the Kent name.

Ahmet Erdönmez has created a museum which takes an interest in protecting what remains of Bursa’s Ottoman heritage.

The museum is his labour of love containing a street in which the shops of craftsmen of an earlier era have been beautifully re-created.

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This covered bridge was built in 1442 in the Ottoman style.

It was restored in 1855 and rebuilt in 2002.

We got a taxi to the spot the first time we crossed it we didn't realise that it was a bridge as it looked just like a normal street with small shops on either side. We soon realised our mistake and then walked across again and continued on through the old town.

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This mosque of Sultan Murad II is similar in style to the Yesil Cami, although not quite as magnificent. It is built in a similar T-shape and has substantial blue tile work inside.

This is part of the larger Muradiye complex of the mosque, medrese, and cemetery/tombs that gives this part of Bursa its name. See my tip on the medrese and tombs as well.