Edirne

The former Ottoman capital in the Thrace region of Turkey, famous for the World Heritage-listed Selimiye Mosque and traditional oil wrestling.

Edirne is located in the northwestern corner of Turkey, near the borders with Greece and Bulgaria, surrounded by rivers like the Meriç. It served as the capital of the Ottoman Empire before the capital was moved to Istanbul. Mimar Sinan's masterpiece, the Selimiye Mosque, is the city's landmark. The Old Mosque, Üç Şerefeli Mosque, and the Complex of Bayezid II trace early Ottoman architectural history, while the Ali Pasha Bazaar and the historic Meriç Bridge are also worth a visit. The Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling Festival in early summer is the most unique event, and spring and autumn offer pleasant weather. It is about a two-and-a-half-hour bus ride from Istanbul.

Destinations

• Edirne

Itineraries

• Istanbul, Edirne and Gallipoli in – Istanbul's classic sights, plus a day in Edirne and one night at the Gallipoli battlefields, wrapping up on the Asian s…