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Kaleiçi is a historic area of Edirne, Turkey. It’s separated by the rest of the historic city center by Saraçlar Street to the east and Talat Pasha Avenue to the north.
History
Kaleiçi literally translates to Inside the Castle. It was the only settlement in the city when it was conquered by the Ottomans around 1369. At that time, it was populated by about 15,000 Byzantine Greeks, Genoese, and Jews. Several Byzantine churches and a palace were located there. Armenians and Bulgarians arrived during Ottoman rule and added their cultures to the area.
Kaleiçi used to contain several wooden homes with gardens built mostly by Greeks, Bulgarians, and Jews, but many were lost to fires in 1903 and 1912. Several churches, mosques, and synagogues were also destroyed. The fires allowed for redevelopment of the area, which was laid out by French experts along with local engineer Nazif Akanlar.
Ottoman Homes
The area is still popular with tourists looking to admire the remaining Ottoman homes. They date back to the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries. Some have been beautifully restored while others are in disrepair. A few function as boutique hotels.
Kırkpınar House
One of the most impressive Ottoman homes is the Kırkpınar House (Kırkpınar Evi). It was built in the 19th century and now contains a museum dedicated to the Kırkpınar oil wrestling tournament. There’s also a tea garden in back.
Italian Church
A block west of the Kırkpınar House is the Italian Church (İtalyan Kilisesi), which was built in 1852. It was used as an additional building for a nearby school from 2006 to 2017. An inscription in Latin sits above the door.
Fish Market
The Fish Market (Balık Pazarı) runs along a street just south of the Ali Pasha Bazaar from Saraçlar Street. Along with a few fishmongers is a fish fountain in the middle of the street.
See Also…
Another important landmark in Kaleiçi is the Grand Synagogue of Edirne, which is covered in a separate entry.
