Which Ottoman mosque in Edirne did architect Mimar Sinan call his masterpiece?

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The Selimiye Mosque is the Ottoman mosque in Edirne that architect Mimar Sinan called his masterpiece.

Sultan Selim II commissioned the mosque, which Sinan built between 1569 and 1575. Its huge central dome dominates a square prayer hall and is supported by an carefully organized structural system that gives the interior a remarkable sense of unity. Four slender minarets frame the building and rise about 71 metres.

Sinan designed the complex with an accompanying courtyard, school, covered market and other facilities. The mosque became the central landmark of Edirne, the Ottoman capital before Istanbul became the empire’s principal seat.

The Selimiye is often compared with Sinan’s earlier Süleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul. The comparison is useful, but the Selimiye’s centralized interior and enormous dome represent the culmination of his mature Ottoman design.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Sept. 2026

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