Iznik

Another day trip from Istanbul, Iznik is famous for its long history producing tiles and for the influence it had on the future of Christianity. If you have visited the Blue Mosque or Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, then the brilliantly colored tiles have left their impression on you. All of those tiles come from Iznik, where you can buy beautiful, hand-crafted ceramics and tiles still today. The church turned mosque that you see in the two middle photos was where the Council of Nicaea met to decide on the divinity of Jesus Christ. I went together with my 5th graders, who had the time of their lives in their first ever overnight school trip.