Roman-era bath ruins in İznik left unprotected for years: Historic site filled with trash

The Roman-era bath ruins, which were unearthed during the foundation excavation of a construction project in the İznik district of Bursa in 2020, have not been placed under regular protection despite the years that have passed. The accumulation of trash and the neglected appearance of the historic site located on Atatürk Street have drawn criticism.

Examinations conducted by archaeologists and art historians affiliated with the İznik Museum Directorate in the approximately 600-square-meter area determined that the remains belonged to a Roman-era bath structure. However, the lack of landscaping and insufficient protective measures at the site are raising concerns that the ruins could suffer further damage over time.

The fact that the bath ruins are located approximately 50 meters from the Church of Saint Tryphonos, built by Byzantine Emperor Theodore II Laskaris between 1255 and 1256, further increases the historical significance of the region. The failure to protect cultural heritage elements located along the same route is also considered a shortcoming in terms of İznik's tourism potential.

Citizens who have seen the historic site stated that this image is unacceptable in a city like İznik, which has been home to various civilizations, and issued a call to the authorities. The citizens requested that the area be cleaned, placed under protection, and that the necessary arrangements be made to integrate it into cultural tourism.