The historic Selimiye Mosque in Edirne, northwestern Türkiye, reopened following the completion of an extensive four-year restoration project, marking a major milestone in the preservation of one of the most important monuments of Ottoman architecture.
Built by the famed Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan between 1568 and 1575 and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the mosque has undergone comprehensive conservation work aimed at safeguarding the structure for future generations while maintaining its original character.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended the official reopening ceremony on Friday after performing the weekly Friday prayer at the Selimiye Mosque. The project, which began in late 2021 under the supervision of experts and the General Directorate of Foundations, included work on the mosque's dome, minarets, stonework, calligraphy, decorative elements and surrounding complex.
Speaking at the ceremony, Erdoğan said the restoration had reinforced every part of the mosque while preserving a cannonball scar left on the structure during the Balkan Wars by Bulgarian forces. The mark was intentionally retained as a reminder of the struggles fought on the region's soil, he said.
