Selimiye Mosque (Center):Monumental structure, which
is created by Mimar Sinan during his 80th age, and mentioned as my "Master
piece" is one of the master pieces of Ottoman Turkish art and World
Architectural History.
The mosque, which is the symbol of Edirne and Ottoman Empire,
is in the city center. Structure which draw attention from distant lands via its
four minarets, is also showing that Mimar Sinan was a city planning expert at
the same time with the selection of construction site of it.
Cut stone built mosque, covers an area of 2475 m2. Selimiye Mosque, which is
mentioned as the structure constructed on the widest place within the history of
architecture, is drawing attention with its dome of 43,28 m high from ground,
and 31.30 m. diameter. Dome, which is bigger than Hagia Sophia’s dome, is
sitting on eight big positions, which are connecting to each other with six
meters wide arches.
Mosque, is very important with its adornment characteristics, such as rock,
marble, tile, wooden, nacre besides the uniqueness of architectural
characteristics. Its niche and balcony are the master pieces of arts of marble
labor. Tile adornments of the structure have an importantplace within Ottoman
and World art. Most beautiful samples of the 16th century tile making, these
tiles, are made with 'sıraltı' technique, and constructed in İznik.
There are four elegant envelope minarets with 3,80 m diameter and 70,89 m height
of Selimiye mosque. The minarets, which are at both sides of the public gate,
have three roadpaths each, and each balcony can be climbed by separate stairs.
Other two minarets have one passage.
There are Darüssıbyan, Darülkur'a and Darülhadis structures at outer courtyard
of the structure, which is constructed as a kulliye.
Üç Şerefeli Mosque (Center):It is constructed in between 1443 and 1447,
by IInd Murat. Mosque is among the early and classical periods of Osmanlı art.
Here, you can face with a firstly applied plan. 24 meters diameter having big
central dome, is based on the six supports, composed of two grade, and four wall
grades. There are smaller two domes and covered square divisions at sides.
Structure, as an innovation, has breadthways rectangular plan. This plan is
applied by Mimar Sinan, to Istanbul mosques with more advanced form. Also
courtyard with revak is firstly applied to this mosque in Ottoman architecture.
Minarets are placed at four ends of the courtyard. Üç şerefeli mosque is a
monumental structure which is leading to the latter mosques with these
characteristics.
Monumental minaret with three balconies, which named the mosque, is 67,62 meters
high. Separate passages are used to climb to the balconies.
Adornments of the mosque are also interesting. Unique chisel
adornments at revak domes, are some of the oldest samples on the Osmanlı
mosques.
Muradiye Mosque (Center):It is constructed on a Sarayiçi reigning hill at
Muradiye district by IInd Murat. There is no dating on its inscription. It is
the most beautiful sample of the side spaced (with zaviye) mosques.
In spite of simplicity of external appearance, mosque is one of the most drawing
attention structures of 15th century Ottoman art according to internal
adornment. Niche and walls covering tiles, are the most beautiful samples of the
Turkish tile art.
II. Bayezit Mosque and Kulliye (Center):Kulliye, which at the coasts of
Tunca River, and two kilometers away from city center, is one of the most
important structures of Edirne. It is lying on a huge are with its mosque,
medical theology school, imaret, darüşşifa, hamam, kitchen, provisions
warehouses and other divisions. Architect of the kulliye, which is constructed
by Bayezit II between 1484 and 1488, is Hayreddin. Kulliye, which has a very
impressive appearance, is covered with nearly hundred small and large domes.
Most interesting one of the structures is the monumental mosque with two
minarets, and 20,55 meters diameter. There are Tabhanes (publishing houses) with
nine domes at both sides of the space with main dome. These divisions are
directly opening to outside. Dome passage is supplied with pandatives.
Marble niche and pulpit have simple appearance. It is the first example in
Edirne with very elegant sovereign gallery, made up of porphyry marble. Late
period baroque adornments are disturbing the simple beauty of the mosque.
Eski Mosque (Center):It is the oldest monumental structure, remained from
Ottomans in Edirne. Its construction is commenced in 1403 by Emir Süleyman, and
completed in 1414 during Çelebi Sultan Mehmet. Its architect, is one of the
pupils of Konyalı Hacı Alaaddin, Ömer ibn İbrahim.
Yıldırım Bayezid Mosque (Center):It is the oldest mosque of Edirne, which
remained from 16th century, and three kilometers away from the city center. Both
its plan and its column heads are showing that structure is a crucifix planned
Byzantium church. While it was transformed into a mosque in the name of Yıldırım
Bayazıd (1400), it is reconstructed other than base. But as the direction of
Mecca is not complying with the axis of the structure, niche, had been put to
one of the edges of the crucifix branches, and gained an inclined appearance.
The current view of the mosque is composed of four arches, a dome and a single
minaret.
Fatih Mosque (Enez Hagia Sophia, Enez):The structure of mosque, which
remained from Byzantium period, is very big. It is from edge walled, crucifix
planned churches group.
Structure, is transformed into a mosque with placing niche and balcony to the
south branch during Ottoman period. It is interesting in connection with showing
late Byzantium period characteristics with external surface tile adornments as
well as middle Byzantium period with lengthwise progressed crucifix plan. The
mosque has been currently in ruined position.
Sokullu Kulliye (Kasım Paşa Kulliye, Havsa):It is in Havsa province, on
Edirne road. It is constructed to Mimar Sinan in the name of Kasım Pasha, son of
Sokullu Mehmet Pasha in 1576 - 1577. Kulliye; was composed of two caravansaries,
mosque, theology school, imaret, double hamam, dervish convent, bridge and
guilds. Today only mosque, hamam, mosque courtyard based and an unpredictable
wall with oven - niche, pray dome, binding mosque and caravansary in the middle
of the guilds and fountain added afterwards to kulliye, can be seen.
Sweti George Church (Center):It is constructed in 1880 at Kıyık district
of Edirne. Writings at the church, decorated in 1889, are written with Slav
Bulgarian Language. There are some pictures remaining from the former church
which was at the same place before.
Today the structure has still been well-kept.
Jewish Synagogue (Center):It is at Kaleiçi district of Edirne, and
constructed in 1902 - 1903. Today it was not available for worship.