Niceia

Niceia, also spelled Nicaea or Nicea, is a historic city in northwestern Anatolia, located on the southern shore of Lake İznik in present-day Bursa Province, Turkey. The name derives from the Greek Nikaia, meaning “victory.” The site is best known for its central role in early Christian history and its long-standing urban presence in the region.

Historically, Niceia rose as the capital of the ancient kingdom of Bithynia and later developed as a major urban center under Roman and Byzantine rule. In 325 CE, the First Council of Nicaea was convened in the city, resulting in the Nicene Creed, a foundational statement of Christian orthodoxy. The city continued to be an important ecclesiastical and commercial hub through late antiquity and the early Middle Ages. It was eventually conquered by Seljuk and later Ottoman forces, and in the modern era the town is known as İznik.

Geography and economy of the area have long centered on Lake İznik, with the surrounding region supporting agriculture and fishing. The city preserves traces of its complex past, including historic fortifications and religious and civic structures. Iznik pottery, one of the area’s most famous traditional crafts, flourished during the Ottoman period and remains a cultural hallmark associated with the broader İznik region.

Today Niceia is part of Turkey’s Bursa Province and serves as a local administrative and cultural center. The site attracts visitors for the lake setting, historic walls and landmarks, and opportunities to explore the city’s archaeological and architectural heritage.