Edirne tours from Istanbul
Located on the border between Greece and Turkey, Edirne (Adrianople) after being ruled by Persians, Romans, and Venetians, was conquered by Sultan Murat I in 1361, and soon thereafter established as the capital of the Ottoman Empire, and the name was changed from Adrianopolis to Edirne. The city was also called Der-I Saadet (“happiness gate”) and Serhad. Witness to many victorious celebrations, the place was among the lucky charms of the empire’s growth. The conquest of Constantinople and further expansion into Thrace all began there.
In the 18th century, it was one of the seven largest cities in Europe. Set on a verdant plain of poplar trees near the junction of the Tunca and Meriç rivers, this gracefully historical city welcomes visitors as they make their way to Istanbul and other points east. The people of Edirne trace their origins back to the rule of the Macedonians. The Roman Emperor Hadrian rebuilt the city and renamed it Hadrianople after himself. With the division of the Roman Empire, the Byzantines claimed Edirne. In 1361 Sultan Murat I added it to his empire. The city’s role as the capital of the Ottoman Empire for almost 100 years accounts for its many historically and architecturally important buildings. With its mosques, religious complexes, bridges, old bazaars, caravanserais and palaces, Edirne is a living museum.
Edirne has retained many of its colourful traditions and customs including the world-famous Kırkpınar oil-wrestling festival.
Selimiye Mosque is the most important and, at the same time, the most famous historical monument of Edirne. This Ottoman imperial mosque was designed by Mimar Sinan, the most distinguished architect of the Ottoman Empire, responsible for the erection of more than 300 buildings, including bridges,hamams, medreses, and mosques. Selimiye Mosque was constructed between 1566 and 1574, on the orders of Sultan Selim II. It is considered to be Sinan’s finest piece of work and the culmination of Islamic architecture in the Ottoman Empire. It was planned as a part of the entire architectural complex, known as külliye, consisting of the mosque, two medreses (theological schools), a covered bazaar called Selimiye Arastası, a clock tower, numerous courtyards and a library. The mosque is the world’s first single-domed structure built as part of a religious building. According to historians, the development of single-domed space was the end point of architectural achievement in the pre-Industrial Revolution era. Executed by Mimar Sinan, who was 85 years old at the time, it confirmed his position as the most important Ottoman architect. The plethora of colors and patterns that cover the mosque’s interiors has been numerously adapted in contemporary design, proving that the timeless quality envisioned for the place was achieved. Since the site was added to UNESCO’s world heritage list, it is continuously preserved to maintain its original authenticity.
The Eski Mosque is the oldest Ottoman structure in Edirne, and built by Mehmet I between 1403 and 1414. The white marble of its portal contrasts with the building’s cut stone and brick masonry, while calligraphic inscriptions of Koranic verses decorate the interior. The Üç Şerefeli Mosque, built by Murat I between 1438 and 1447, presages Sinan’s great mosque architecture and embodies a new freedom from restraint as well as advances in engineering. The northwest minaret has three galleries, giving the mosque its name and it was the highest minaret until those of the Selimiye Mosque in Edirne eclipsed it. Towards the end of the 15th century, Beyazıt II commissioned the architect Hayrettin to build him a complex in stood out in its time as being a modern hospital with a unique architectural design.
Little has changed in the Kaleiçi section of Edirne since the Middle Ages, with narrow streets lined with houses winding through the area. The number of small restaurants and cafes reflect the district’s current renaissance. Sinan built several of the famous baths in Edirne including the Sokollu, Tahtakale, Mezit Bey, Beylerbeyi and Gazi Mihal hamams. His work is also seen at the Ahmet Paşa Caravanserai and the Rüstem Paşa Caravanserai of 1561 – the latter was renovated and today it serves as a charming hotel. The old bedesten of the early 15th century still functions as Edirne’s main market. As you drive around the area, you will spot many lovely Ottoman bridges gracing the Tunca and Meric rivers.
Reopened after a 36-year closure and a five-year US$2.5 million restoration project, Edirne’s Grand Synagogue is the sole reminder of when a community of more than 20,000 Sephardic Jews lived in the city. Built in 1906 to replace 13 smaller synagogues destroyed in the Great Fire of Edirne in 1903, the elegant building features a delicately hued arched roof and beautifully tiled floors.
