Edirne - Turkey

I'm waiting for a couple of new UNESCO cards in the next days. I was hoping to get a few this week but i've only got mail once and only 2 cards!! This was probably one of the worse weeks ever. 

Many, many weeks ago i've got a card, sent by Nihan, from a turkish site missing in my collection, Selimiye Mosque and its Social Complex, in Edirne, on the WHS list since 2011. 

Selimiye Mosque and its Social Complex is located in the most eye catching spot of the city. The complex is considered to be the most harmonious expression ever achieved of the Ottoman kulliye, a group of buildings constructed around a mosque and managed as a single institution.

This masterpiece created by Mimar Sinan during his best period, is located on the summit of a hill, and is in the classical Ottoman style. With its advanced design, this mosque built on the orders of Sultan Selim II (1569-1575), reflects Mimar Sinan's genius. This mosque, which has four minarets with three balconies each, is recognized as the greatest masterpiece of Ottoman Turkish architecture.

Also the building with its four minarets that catch one's eye from far off, and with the location chosen for construction, shows that Mimar Sinan was an expert of city planning. Selimiye Mosque with its single great dome and four slender minarets, dominates the skyline of the former Ottoman capital of Edirne.

Selimiye Mosque that is qualified in architectural history as the building established on the widest area, draws attention with its dome, 43.28 m high and 31.30 m in diameter.

Selimiye Mosque is very important with its ornamental features like stone, marble, tile, wood, mother of pearl, besides the architectural features beyond reach. Its niche (mihrap) that shows the direction of Mecca and its pulpit (minber) are two of the main monuments of marble craft. The tile ornaments of the mosque has a special place in Ottoman art. These tile works, which are some of the best samples of 16th century tile craft, are made in Iznik with underglaze technique. - in: http://www.goturkeytourism.com/things-to-do/selimiye-mosque-and-its-social-complex-edirne-turkey.html