SELIMIYE MOSQUE (SELIMIYE CAMII)
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It is, without question, the most beautiful building in Edirne. And it is the work of the brilliant architect Mimar Koca Sinan, to whom we also owe the imposing mosque of Soliman the Magnificent (Süleymaniye Camii) in Istanbul. The Selimiye Camii, a magnificent imperial religious building, was built on the highest point of the city, between 1569 and 1575, by order of Sultan Selim II. This square mosque sits at the center of a remarkable architectural and social complex (külliye) with schools and stores. Its single main dome of 31 m in diameter (slightly larger than that of the Hagia Sophia Basilica in Istanbul) creates a bright and airy prayer space. Eight pillars, buttresses and several arches support the 48-ton dome. The four minarets of 71 m direct the building towards the sky and give it an enchanting silhouette that dominates the ancient Ottoman city. The interior adorned with Iznik earthenware testifies to the heyday of this craft. Behind, in the garden, we see Ottoman steles in line. Originally, the Selimiye Mosque was surrounded by a series of buildings housing several Koranic schools and libraries. Today, the Koranic school (medersa) is a museum of Turkish and Islamic art. The ensemble is considered the most harmonious expression of the Ottoman külliye. Also, in 2011, the mosque and the surrounding architectural ensemble were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
