Termal Bursa — Çekirge

The Cekirge district of Bursa is the historical thermal heart of Turkey's first Ottoman capital, where bicarbonate-rich spring waters, used since Hellenistic times, flow through a succession of hamam bathhouses that define the Ottoman thermal culture — from the 14th-century Eski Kaplicalar built by Sultan Murat I to the elegant hotel spas that continue the tradition today. The Iskender kebab, one of the most famous Turkish dishes, was invented in Bursa in the 19th century by Iskender Efendi, and the original Iskender kebab remains a culinary pilgrimage for visitors to the thermal district. The Bursa Grand Mosque (Ulu Cami, 1399) with its 20 domes and extraordinary calligraphic fountain at the centre, and the covered bazaar complex including the world-famous silk market, complete a Bursa experience that seamlessly integrates Ottoman thermal culture, Imperial Islamic architecture, and living culinary tradition.