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The Selimiye Mosque was part of a large social complex. The UNESCO World Heritage site is located in the historic city center of Edirne, Turkey.
History
The Selimiye Mosque was built between 1568 and 1574 by renowned Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan, who considered it his masterpiece. It was commissioned by Sultan Selim II. The complex (külliye) consisted of several buildings, including a madrasa, Hadith school, primary school, timekeeper’s room, library, and covered market.
Arasta Bazaar
On the west side of the mosque is a long covered market called the Arasta Bazaar (Arasta Çarşısı). The T-shaped market has three entrances. A stairway at the center leads up to the outer courtyard of the mosque.
Inside the Arasta Bazaar you can find several different types of souvenirs including Edirne’s famous fruit-scented soaps. Locals also shop there for clothes and other goods.
Selimiye Madrasa
Behind the mosque to the south is the Selimiye Madrasa (Selimiye Dar’ül Kurra Medresesi). It was used to educate reciters of the Quran. Today, it functions as the Selimiye Foundation Museum, which is covered in a separate post.
The madrasa consists of a rectangular courtyard surrounded by porticos on each side. A large room with a dome on the east side of the courtyard served as the classroom and a small mosque. The rooms to the south and west of the courtyard were cells for students and teachers.
Hadith School
Behind the mosque to the north is the Hadith School (Dar’ül Hadis Medresesi). It was completed in 1571. Today, it functions as the Edirne Turkish and Islamic Art Museum, which is covered in a separate post.
The Hadith School has a plan similar to the madrasa, but the classroom and small mosque is on the west side.
Tombs
Directly behind the mosque between the two madrasas is an open space that contains a few Ottoman tombs. The tombs aren’t marked so I’m not sure who they belong to.
Ottoman Tombstone Exhibition
North of the mosque is an Ottoman tombstone exhibition. It contains several fine examples of Ottoman tombstones arranged in a small park.
Ottoman tombstones give lots of information about the person buried in the tomb. They indicate occupation, gender, age, and social status, sometimes without using written language. The tombstones are also considered important works of art.
Saray Hamam
North of the Selimiye Mosque is the Saray Hamam (Saray Hamamı), which is the only surviving structure from the first Ottoman palace in Edirne. It was added to the palace in the late 14th century by Sultan Bayezid I.
Although it wasn’t part of the mosque complex, it played an important role during its construction. The hamam was used by construction workers to stay clean. It was in use until the First Balkan War in 1912, then sat empty for nearly a century. The building was restored from 2007 to 2009 and reopened to the public as a hamam once again.
Taşodalar Hotel
Finally, down the street from the hamam are some Ottoman homes that have been converted to a boutique hotel, the Taşodalar Hotel.
