Selimiye Mosque’s minarets reach for the sky. They appear impossibly slender. This isn’t just a mosque. It is a declaration. A testament to Ottoman ambition and architectural genius. We are standing before the Selimiye Mosque in Edirne. It is the masterpiece of Mimar Sinan. He considered it his finest work. Sultan Selim II commissioned this grand structure. Construction took place between 1568 and 1575.
The Selimiye Mosque is more than just a building. It’s a külliye. This is an Ottoman architectural complex. It includes theological schools, a covered bazaar and a library. In 2011, UNESCO recognized its value. They added the Selimiye Complex to the World Heritage List.
Sultan Selim II loved Edirne. He chose it over Constantinople for his imperial mosque. Edirne impressed Europeans entering the Ottoman Empire. The Selimiye Mosque would showcase Ottoman greatness. Sinan chose the location carefully. He knew the geology of Sari Tepe hill.
Look at the cityscape. Sinan designed the Selimiye Complex to fit perfectly. It stands near other mosques. These are the Old Mosque and Üç Şerefeli Mosque. Buildings around the Selimiye Mosque give it scale.
The Selimiye Complex has seen many changes. Lightning and earthquakes caused damage. Calligraphy was renovated. The bazaar’s lead roof became ammunition. Russian officers looted tiles. Bulgarian artillery damaged the dome. Atatürk ordered the damage to remain unrepaired. It served as a warning.
The concept of a mosque complex was an Ottoman innovation. Earlier complexes lacked a plan. Sinan adapted his designs to the land. The Selimiye Mosque Complex embodies this organic approach. Medreses stand at the corners. A covered market hides a terrace. This market provided income for the mosque. It was originally occupied by shoemakers.
Notice the mosque’s scale. It dominates Edirne’s skyline. Four equal minarets enhance this effect. Access to the mosque is cleverly designed. Entrances reveal only parts of the building. This creates a sense of surprise.
The courtyard matches the mosque’s size. A sixteen-sided fountain sits in the middle. A colonnade surrounds the courtyard. Domes vary in size. The entrance features the largest dome.
The Selimiye Mosque is adorned with brick arches and domes. Sandstone blocks create the walls. Red sandstone frames the windows. The prayer room is large. The dome has a diameter of 31.3 meters. Sinan believed it surpassed Hagia Sophia’s dome.
Eight piers support the dome. This allows an unobstructed view of the mihrab. The mihrab is decorated with Iznik tiles. Windows illuminate it from three sides. A marble minbar stands nearby. The muezzin platform sits beneath the dome. This placement optimizes acoustics.
Light and shadow play inside. The lower level is dark. The galleries are filled with light. The Sultan’s lodge features floral tiles. The dome and walls display calligraphy. Iznik tiles have survived since the 16th century.
Each minaret is 71 meters high. They each have three balconies. Two minarets have separate spiral staircases. Sultan Selim II died before the mosque’s completion. Sinan was 85 when it was finished.
The Selimiye Mosque’s minarets are not the world’s tallest. But they were likely the tallest when the mosque was built. Acrobats once performed on a tightrope between them.
The upside-down tulips symbolize a reluctant landlord. He didn’t want to give up his tulip garden. The Selimiye Mosque has 999 windows. Sinan said this symbolizes God’s perfection.
The entrance to the Selimiye Mosque is free. The main entrance is through the bazaar. Here you can buy souvenirs. The Selimiye Foundation Museum displays artifacts. The Turkish and Islamic Art Museum is also nearby.
Mimar Sinan’s statue stands to the west. A monument to Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror is also present. It features replicas of the Orban bombard.
The Selimiye Mosque stands as a reminder of Ottoman power. Its beauty continues to inspire.