What To Do In Edirne

As the former capital of the Ottoman Empire, Edirne has a lot of historic mosque architecture that still exudes its former glory. Considered one of Sinan’s greatest works, Edirne’s Selimiye Mosque is a truly breathtaking sight.

Built from 1569 to 1575 by acclaimed architect Sinan, the Selimiye Mosque and its area are located in Edirne, which was the capital of the Ottoman Empire.

The Selimiye Mosque is a masterpiece of Ottoman art and the history of worldwide architecture. The mosque with its dome and four slender minarets can be seen from anywhere in the city. Aside from the unique architecture, the mosque is also admired for the exquisite details in the work carved in stone and marble, for the glazed tiles, the woodwork and the mother of pearl inlays. The Üç Şerefeli Mosque is another amazing example that dominates the city and was built between 1437 and 1447.Below are the other famous mosques that we recommend you to see.

With such a rich past in terms of the Ottoman Empire, it’s no surprise that typical bazaar culture  is predominant in Edirne as well. There are many options for shopping in Edirne, especially one of the historic bazaars where you can find the local produce. Visit the historic Bedesten Bazaar in the Old Mosque, the Selimiye Arcade below the Selimiye Mosque or the Ali Paşa Covered Bazaar designed by Sinan in 1569.

The only structure that survived from the first Palace period, built after the conquest of Edirne, is the Saray Hamam. This bath previously only served the palace, then opened to the public and was dedicated to Selimiye. Some historians attribute the survival of this bath to the fact that it was used during the construction years of Selimiye.

Historical and cultural places such as caravansaries and khans in Edirne can be seen in all details during your vacation. The Ekmekçizade Ahmet Paşa Caravanserai, one of the most valuable historical and cultural assets of Edirne, is located in the Ayşekadın district of the city. Due to the fact that it was a menzil inn and a property, the commercial caravans staying as in many Ottoman caravanserais would not pay the accommodation fee for three days. Again, as is customary in these caravanserais, the doors of the caravanserai were closed in terms of security when it was dark, prayers were made under the prayer dome in the morning, the goods were counted, the doors were opened and the caravans who stayed were set on the road.

In addition to the small oil wrestling museum, Edirne has many other great exhibits that take tourists back in time. Visit the Health Museum to discover the medical details and advances of the Ottoman era, or head to the Edirne Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art to see some stunning examples of Ottoman weapons, costumes, and jewelry.

He said that Edirne’s being a city of bridges is directly proportional to being the starting point of conquest movements in Europe. Stating that each of the bridges has the purpose of crossing canals, streams and rivers, they are arranged like a series of necklaces, and we want you to remind  that many stone bridges were built during the Ottoman period. Edirne’s Historical Bridges, we emphasize that the most famous of these are the Tunca and Meriç bridges, which are located in the same area and almost give way to each other.

Aside from its historic mosques, Edirne’s beautiful Kaleiçi area is home to wooden houses from the 18th to 20th centuries. In the other historic old town of Sarayiçi, behind the historic bridge, you will find the remains of the Old Palace built by Sultan Murat II, as well as the restored Ottoman kitchens where the imperial cuisine began. With such a rich past in terms of the Ottoman Empire, it’s no surprise that Empire cuisine is predominant in Edirne as well. Indulge in Ottoman dishes in Edirne’s famous restaurants or grab some Ottoman helva with cinnamon, ginger and saffron in Keçecizade.