For over 300 years, the closely guarded secrets of the Ottoman Empire's luminous tilework were lost, but its rediscovery has revived a key part of TΓΌrkiye's cultural heritage.
Renowned for intricate designs and lustrous colors, Iznik tiles are considered the pinnacle of Ottoman art, gracing monuments such as Istanbul's Blue Mosque, locally known as the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, and TopkapΔ± Palace.
The tiles come from Iznik, a small town near Istanbul with a ceramics tradition spanning two millennia, also known as Nicaea, which hosted a landmark Christian gathering in A.D. 325 that Pope Leo will celebrate when he visits this month.
Under the patronage of the Ottoman Empire, Iznik's artisans flourished, obtaining "remarkable achievements" by th
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