For over 300 years, the closely-guarded secrets of the Ottoman Empire's luminous tilework was lost, but its rediscovery has revived a key part of Turkey’s cultural heritage.

Renowned for intricate designs and lustrous colours, Iznik tiles are considered the pinnacle of Ottoman art, gracing monuments such as Istanbul's Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace.

The tiles come from Iznik, a small town near Istanbul with a ceramics tradition spanning two millennia also known as Nicaea, which hosted a landmark Christian gathering in 325 AD that Pope Leo will celebrate when he visits this month.

Under the patronage of the Ottoman Empire, Iznik's artisans flourished, obtaining "remarkable achievements" by the mid-16th century, said Professor Ezgi Yalcinkaya, head of traditional Turkish arts at Usak Univ

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