The story of Nicaea

This quiet town once minted gold coins in its own name and was remembered as the "Golden City." Nikaia, inside today's İznik, was an ancient Greek city. In the 4th century BC Antigonos, one of Alexander's commanders, named it Antigonia; after Lysimachos won the Battle of Ipsus, he renamed it Nikaia after his wife Nike.

In 325, 218 bishops gathered here for the First Ecumenical Council and issued a 20-article decision known as the Laws of Nicaea. After the Goths attacked in 259, the Romans rebuilt the walls stronger. Walk along them: they wrap the town in a five-sided ring about 4970 metres long, 10-13 metres high, with 114 round and square towers and four main gates.

Nikaia later served as capital of the Empire of Nicaea from 1204 until 1261, and as the Ottoman capital from 1331 to 1335.