Bursa's 'Little Venice' under excavation

Uludağ University (UÜ) Department of Archaeology aims to introduce Bursa's Gölyazı neighborhood, which is also called "Little Venice," to tourism after the completion of the archeological excavations currently being conducted in the region. UÜ Vice Chancellor Professor Tevfik Yücedoğru and Secretary in general Professor İsmail Sağlam visited the excavation site and were briefed by Professor Mustafa Şahin of the Department of Archaeology about the ongoing archeological work in Gölyazı. The university executives also observed the area from helicopter and received detailed information about the project.

Gölyazı is surrounded by city walls on three sides and stands out with its natural beauty and historical importance. The ancient city, which is located under modern residences, is named "Apollonia ad Rhyndacum." Although the ancient city was believed to be established in fifth century B.C., recent studies show that the city was founded in the mid-second century B.C. This year's excavation season kicked off on Kız Ada in Lake Uluabat where an ancient temple dedicated to Apollo is located.

According to the early sketches of the ruins by French explorers M.P. Le Bas and S. Reinach in the 1800s, the temple on the island is one kilometer from the coast. No other document that survived to the present day shows any sign of a holy place other than the temple. The UÜ Department of Archaeology has cleaned away the dense flora that covered the island, and after the project, the region is planned to be introduced to tourism, which will offer a new way to earn income for the fishermen who cannot work during the fishing ban.