When you find yourself in Bursa, what should be at the very top of your list if you want to truly feel the city's soul and witness the rebirth of a great empire from its ashes? You must go to the heart of the first Ottoman capital, to the monument of a state's resurgence after being shattered by Timur and scattered in the chaos of the Interregnum. The answer is simple: you should prepare your list of things to do at Bursa's Green Mosque and step through the gates of this unique complex. This is not just a mosque and a tomb; it is the place where Sultan Mehmed I, known as the "second founder" for reuniting a fragmented empire, proclaimed to the world, "We are standing strong!" by blending art, politics, and faith.   

Marvel at the unique tiles of the Green Tomb, known as the "Jewel of Bursa"

As you enter the Yeşil Complex (Green Complex), the first thing to greet you will be the Green Tomb, sparkling like an emerald on the hill just opposite the mosque. Don't be misled by the name "Green," because the color that will truly dazzle your eyes is the magical "firuze," a Persian-derived color that the French call "turquoise." Just think, there is no other tomb in Ottoman history whose exterior walls are completely covered in tiles! This makes it singular and unique.   

These tiles are not quite like the ceramics you might know; they are more like colorful glazed bricks. Although some have been damaged over the centuries, the original tiles from the first day have been gathered on the facade to the left of the entrance. You can approach them and, for a moment, touch that initial moment in history. According to the traveler Evliya Çelebi, even its dome was once covered with green-glazed tiles, truly living up to its name.   

When you step inside the tomb, you will find yourself in a veritable "tile paradise." The hexagonal turquoise tiles covering the walls transform into a riot of color and pattern around the mihrab. At over ten meters high, this mihrab is the pinnacle of Iznik tile art. This masterpiece, a blend of dark blue, yellow, turquoise, black, and white, bears the signature of a master named "Mehmed el Mecnun." The secret to these tiles lies in the up to 85% quartz content in their paste, a feature that gives them their unique brilliance and durability.   

The art here offers more than just aesthetic pleasure; it also reflects the political climate of the era. An inscription on the mihrab reads "work of the masters of Tabriz." The fact that artisans returning from or brought from the region after Timur's death worked on this masterpiece was a display of power by Sultan Mehmed I. By employing the best masters of a rival culture to create an even more magnificent work, he delivered an architectural response to Timur's legacy.   

Examine the craftsmanship of the Green Mosque's monumental marble gate

Leaving the magic of the tomb and turning towards the Green Mosque directly opposite, you are met this time by a masterpiece of stone craftsmanship. The mosque's monumental crown gate is like an imperial seal carved into marble. This structure holds the distinction of being the first grand marble monument built in Bursa, and the finest marble from Marmara Island was used in its construction.   

The "extraordinarily beautiful" muqarnas canopy over the gate, with its cascading geometric decorations, can hold you captivated for minutes. The green stone and marble used in the door arch, along with the calligraphy and geometric patterns adorning the facade, carry traces of Anatolian Seljuk architecture. This was a conscious choice; the new and reunified Ottoman state emphasized its legitimacy and continuity by linking its roots to the previous great Turkish state in Anatolia.  

As you examine the mosque's facade, you'll notice something peculiar: the traces of a planned but never-built portico. The arch beginnings on the facade seem to whisper that the project was left incomplete due to the sudden death of Sultan Çelebi Mehmed. This unfinished state adds a human and poignant touch to the monument's grandeur.   

Before you enter, let us share a little secret. This structure is not just a place of worship. With its "inverted T" plan, side rooms (tabhanes), and the sultan's loge on the upper floor, it also served as a government building, a courthouse, and a state center where important guests were hosted. So you are not just stepping into a mosque, but into the heart of a re-established empire.   

Visit the tomb of Sultan Mehmed I Çelebi

Your visit would be incomplete without getting to know the man who commissioned this monument, Sultan Mehmed I Çelebi, as you wander among the unique tiles of the Green Tomb. He was not just a sultan, but a leader who enabled a state to rise from its ashes. He is the one who ended the 11-year period of fraternal strife (the Ottoman Interregnum) that began after his father, Bayezid I, was taken captive by Timur at the Battle of Ankara. Although he was a warrior who participated in 24 battles in his lifetime, he was also an intellectual who valued science and art.   

This mausoleum is a summary of his turbulent life. The fact that he had the tomb's construction completed just 40 days before his death suggests he may have sensed his approaching end. Inside the tomb, around his magnificent sarcophagus adorned with raised thuluth script, are the sarcophagi of his sons Mustafa, Mahmud, and Yusuf; his daughters Selçuk, Sitti, Hafsa, and Ayşe; and his wet nurse, Daye Hatun.   

Now it's time to reveal the most striking secret of this complex. Did you notice? The tomb is built on a higher hill than the mosque. In Islamic architecture, the mosque, being the house of God, is always in the most central and highest position, but here there is an exception. This is a deliberate political message. With this unusual design, Sultan Mehmed I is declaring not only to his own people but to the entire world, "We were not destroyed; we are standing strong!"   

There's more. This design is a final response to Timur, who defeated his father and nearly destroyed the empire. It is a challenge to Timur's magnificent mausoleum in Samarkand, the Gur-i Emir. With his tomb completely covered in tiles and placed in a position even more prominent than the mosque, Mehmed I architecturally overshadowed his enemy's legacy and had the last word in this long, painful rivalry. So when you visit the Green Tomb, you are not just visiting a grave, but a monument to one of history's greatest comebacks.   

The Legacy of Yeşil and Continuing Your Exploration in Bursa

After soaking in the spirit of the Yeşil Complex, the story of Bursa doesn't end. To better understand the tale of rebirth told by these unique structures, you can continue your exploration. Since you've come this far;

Immerse yourself in the majestic atmosphere of the Ulu Camii, another architectural giant from the founding period of the Ottoman Empire. In contrast to the elegance of the Green Mosque, the massive scale of the Grand Mosque and the monumental calligraphy on its walls will offer you a different experience.   

Have a cup of tea in the courtyard of (Koza Han), the heart of the historic Silk Road in Bursa. As you sit in this caravanserai where caravans have rested for centuries, you can feel the vibrant spirit of trade that financed structures like the Yeşil Complex.   

You can deepen the spiritual atmosphere by visiting the nearby Emir Sultan Mosque and Complex. Dedicated to Emir Sultan, the son-in-law of Bayezid I and an important scholar of the period, this complex forms a wonderful travel route with the Yeşil Complex.   

Bibliography: To explore the global significance of these unique structures in more detail, you can visit the official page of the "Bursa and Cumalıkızık: The Birth of the Ottoman Empire" UNESCO World Heritage Site, of which the Yeşil Complex is a part.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there an entrance fee for the Green Mosque and Tomb, and what are the visiting hours? Entry to the Green Mosque and Green Tomb is free, as they are active places of worship. While they are generally open to visitors throughout the day, it is recommended that tourists avoid visiting during the five daily prayer times to show respect for worshippers.   

Why should we see the Yeşil Complex as the 'rebirth of the Ottoman Empire'? Because the complex was commissioned by Sultan Mehmed I after the Ottoman defeat by Timur and the subsequent 11-year Interregnum. This structure is a monumental display of power and art through which the sultan, who reunited the fragmented state, sent a message to both his enemies and his people: "We are back, and stronger than before."   

How much time should I set aside to visit the complex? To properly explore the mosque, tomb, and the surrounding madrasa (now the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts), and to truly appreciate the details and atmosphere, we recommend setting aside at least 1.5 to 2 hours.