Old Mosque of Edirne

A Square Nine Domed Mosque Of 1414 With Huge Wall Inscriptions Of Calligraphy, Near The Selimiye Mosque. An Early Ottoman Landmark Beside The Covered Bazaar And A Good Lunch Stop · Edirne, Edirne

The Old Mosque of Edirne, called Eski Cami, stands on Hukumet Street in the middle of the old market of Edirne in Turkish Thrace, near the borders with Greece and Bulgaria. Begun in the early 15th century and finished in 1414, it is a square hall with nine equal domes on four piers, an early Ottoman form that came before the great single-dome buildings. Its walls carry huge calligraphy panels of the names of God and the Prophet in black on a pale ground, and the inside feels broad, plain and calm. The mosque is still in daily use, so visitors should plan around prayers and dress modestly (confirm). It stands beside the Rustem Pasha Caravanserai and the long Ali Pasha Bazaar, and the great Selimiye Mosque is a few minutes away on foot. Edirne was an Ottoman capital before Istanbul, and its river bridges add a calm border air. Allow 30 minutes inside and an hour with the market streets, and confirm opening between prayers before you go.

Old Mosque (Eski Cami) in the centre of Edirne, near the Ali Pasha Bazaar and the Rustem Pasha Caravanserai in Thrace; coordinates approximate, Edirne, Edirne, Turkiye

The Old Mosque is a working mosque, open for visitors between the five daily prayers, usually from morning until late afternoon or evening, but times vary with the season and the imam (confirm). It closes to tourists during prayer and is crowded and closed to sightseeing around the Friday noon service. Prayer times change through the year with the sun, so check the day. The doors may be locked outside prayer times, and religious festivals and funerals can limit access. Confirm times on the day, and expect a short wait if a prayer is under way.

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