The Marmara Region - Turkey with Your Family: From Bustling Bazaars to Historic Sites - page 109

Arts & Crafts
Edirne Crafts
The city of Edirne is famous for
its crafts. Around its streets, espe-
cially the tiny, narrow alleys that
form the Kaleiçi , or old quarter,
of the city, artisans craft in little
workshops. Among the most pop-
ular local products are the beauti-
ful embroidery work on garments,
cushions and tablecloths, ceramics
and earthenware pots, woven bas-
kets and pastries. Look out for
hardaliyetoo, a mix of grape juice,
mustard and marzipan, it tastes
rather better than it sounds.
Iznik Crafts
The town of Iznik is famous for
its intricately designed creamy
white and blue pottery that dates
way back to Ottoman times and
appears in private residences,
palaces and mosques throughout
Turkey, most famously perhaps
in the Sultanahmet Mosque, or
Blue Mosque, in Istanbul.
Today, Iznik has a handful of
artisans who strive to capture the
designs in little workshops.
Purchasing a small bowl, cup,
lamp or plate would make a
lovely and highly unusual sou-
venir to take home.

Among its collections are per-
sonal belongings of Atatürk, such
as garments and household
goods, along with artefacts found
locally around Sakarya. This
museum is well worth visiting if
your children are keen to learn
more about Turkey and how it
became a republic.
Open 8am-5pm daily, closed Mon.
Admission 5 YTL. Amenities cafe,
toilets.

Turkish Islamic Art Museum
Turkish Islamic Art Museum, Selimiye
Camii Yanı, Kadir Pa @ a Mektep Sok,
Edirne. b [phone].
Edirne's Turkish Islamic Art
Museum is located within its
great Selimiye Mosque in Minar
Sinan Caddesi in the centre of
the city. On display are glass-
ware, weapons, manuscripts and
examples of calligraphy that date
back to the Ottoman times, and
of which Edirne is especially
proud. Look out for some fine
examples of shields used in bat-
tle. There's also a room dedi-
cated to the somewhat alarming
local sport of grease wrestling,
whereby participants don very
little clothing, usually just leather
shorts, and cover themselves in
oil, parade across a showground
and then start the fight.
Apparently it has taken place for
centuries, although whether it
will give your youngsters night-
mares or not is questionable. Best
to take a peek first before letting
them see the exhibits.
Open 8.30am-5.30pm daily, closed
Mon. Admission 5 YTL. Amenities
toilets.

Child-friendly Tours
Children will love the chance to
take a horse-drawn carriage ride
around the island of Buyak Ada
(Büyükada), one of nine islands
that together form the Princes'
Islands in the Sea of Marmara off
the south Istanbul coastline (see
p. 100); they leave from the quay-
side on demand. You can see the 109