İznik's Tiled Beauty

İznik tile makers believe that their tiles have magical properties. There is one sound explanation for this (alongside any number of unsound ones): İznik tiles, made from soil that's found only in the area, have a high level of quartz, an element believed to have soothing effects. It's not just the level of quartz that makes İznik tiles unique, though. The original tiles also have distinctive patterns and colors: predominantly blue, then green and red, reflecting the colors of precious stones. The patterns are inspired by local flora—flowering trees or tulips. These days artists use different colors and designs as well as the traditional ones.

İznik became a center for the ceramics industry after the 15th-century Ottoman conquest of Istanbul. To upgrade the quality of native work, Sultan Selim I (ruled 1512–15) brought 500 potters over from Tabriz in Persia. The government-owned kilns were soon turning out exquisite tiles with intricate motifs of circles, stars, and floral and geometric patterns, in lush turquoise, green, blue, red, and white. Despite their costliness, the tiles' popularity spread through the Islamic world, until the industry went into decline in the late 17th century.

İznik tiles are expensive—more so than those produced in the rival ceramics center of Kütahya, 120 km (72 miles) farther south. Prices for real İznik tiles and plates, which should be at least 70% quartz, can run into the hundreds of lira. Because of their higher quartz content than ceramics made elsewhere, İznik tiles are heavier and more durable, making them ideal for decorating high-traffic spaces such as airports and mosques. They're all handmade, with no artificial colors, and the designs tend to be more intricate and elegant than those of their rivals. The tile-makers' street (Salim Demircan Sokak), near the city center, is lined with small shops and workshops where you can see the tiles being made and buy the famous wares.