Edirne
From the outside, Edirne might not seem like much. Some might call it underwhelming or boring. But while it does lack the charm of a place like Istanbul, it has an incredibly rich history and some unique gems that really make it worth a visit.
A few minutes drive from the Greek and Bulgarian borders, Edirne is located in the region known as Thrace or “Thrakia” in Turkish. Like many cities in Turkey, Edirne has a very diverse history. It traces its roots to the Thracian settlement of Uskudama, but its true foundations were laid by the Roman emperor Hadrian who named his newly-built city as Hadrianopolis. Since then, the city was ruled by various kingdoms and empires and was the sight of several battles. In approximately 1369, Hadrianopolis was taken from the Byzantines by the Ottoman empire. The sultan at the time, Murad I, then declared it the new capital of his empire and it was called by the Turks as “Edirne”. But in 1453, the city would lose its status as the capital after Mehmed II took Constantinople.
As you can tell, the city has a lot of significance in Turkish history and it was during the Ottoman rule that some amazing buildings were constructed. The Ottomans were obsessed with building mosques, and Edirne was no exception. The city is known for three mosques, but its most famous is Selimiye Mosque. The others, Burmese Mosque and Eski Mosque, are wonderful in their own ways too, though. The most famous Ottoman architect, Mimar Sinan, led the construction of Selimiye Mosque and regarded it as his ultimate masterpiece. The mosque is a prime example of Ottoman architecture and was also added as a UNESCO site in 2011.
When I first entered Selimiye Mosque, I immediately felt…humble, and this is exactly what the idea was. Anyone, be it the sultan or a commoner, had to leave behind all self-pride before he/she entered the mosque. The size and the beautiful symmetrical designs of the interior, plus the clever use of the lighting, helped the visitor provide a humble and steady mind in order to properly communicate with God. Pretty poetic stuff. The first thing I did was look up and stare at the near-divine art of the ceiling and inner dome. I even laid down on my back and just stared up so I could fully experience and appreciate the intricate geometric designs that Islamic art is known for. I remember feeling at peace and as if all my problems were far away. It was as if I was in another world. It’s an amazing place to just sit and reflect on everything, which is what I did.
Selimiye Mosque is arguably the jewel of Edirne and is alone probably a good enough reason for you to visit. But the other two mosques that I mentioned above are unique as well. Eski Mosques had huge mural calligraphy which generally isn’t really that common in places of worship. The Burmese Mosque has really interesting-looking minarets and its interior is pretty awesome (note- it’s called “Burmese” due to the Turkish word “burmak” meaning “to twist”. One of the minarets spirals so they named the mosque after it. No relation to the country).
Even if Islamic architecture isn’t your thing, it wouldn’t hurt to pay Edirne a visit. Selimiye Mosque is truly a magnificent work of art and the other two mosques are worth checking out as well. Although the city is not as well known as say Istanbul, it’s always useful to visit these lesser known cities if you really want to broaden your perspective and understanding of the country you’re visiting. Besides, who can say no to the amazing eye candy in Edirne’s mosques!
Things to do -
Visit Selimiye Mosque
Visit Eski Camii
Visit Burmese Mosque
