Edirne Selimiye Mosque

Selimiye Mosque, which holds an important place in the history of Ottoman architecture, was built between 1569-1574 by the master architect of the period, Mimar Sinan, by order of Selim II. The last comprehensive repair of the mosque, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List, was carried out about 40 years ago.

Built with ashlar masonry, the structure features a central dome resting on eight piers, standing 43.25 meters high with a diameter of 31.25 meters. The mosque has four minarets, each with three balconies, reaching a height of 84.5 meters. The interior is adorned with exquisite hand-drawn ornaments (kalem işi), İznik tiles, and calligraphy.

The comprehensive restoration works, which commenced in December 2021, were successfully completed as of February 2026. The temporary prayer area, established to allow worship and visits in the direction of the mihrab during the project, has been removed, and the mosque is now fully open to visitors and worshippers. All structural reinforcements throughout the building, extensive repairs on the minarets, the removal of cement-based plasters, and the application of original-composition plaster repairs were carried out with precision. Furthermore, the conservation of original hand-drawn ornaments, tiles, and stucco relief (malakari) work, along with the restoration of wooden and metal structural elements, were performed. Detailed conservation efforts on the Main Portal (Cümle Kapısı) and the Muezzin's Gallery (Mahfil) were executed following meticulous inspections.All interventions were conducted in accordance with Board-Approved Projects, the decisions of the Expert Scientific Committee, and the Administration, remaining faithful to the original form. Through these rigorous efforts, this unique legacy of Architect Sinan has been restored to the city in all its grandeur, preserved to be passed on to future generations